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The Protective Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Oxidative Stress in the Brain Caused by the Long-Term Intake of Aspartame by Rats

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Abstract

Long-term intake of aspartame at the acceptable daily dose causes oxidative stress in rodent brain mainly due to the dysregulation of glutathione (GSH) homeostasis. N-Acetylcysteine provides the cysteine that is required for the production of GSH, being effective in treating disorders associated with oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment (150 mg kg−1, i.p.) on oxidative stress biomarkers in rat brain after chronic aspartame administration by gavage (40 mg kg−1). N-Acetylcysteine led to a reduction in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, and carbonyl protein levels, which were increased due to aspartame administration. N-Acetylcysteine also resulted in an elevation of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase activities, as well as non-protein thiols, and total reactive antioxidant potential levels, which were decreased after aspartame exposure. However, N-acetylcysteine was unable to reduce serum glucose levels, which were increased as a result of aspartame administration. Furthermore, catalase and glutathione S-transferase, whose activities were reduced due to aspartame treatment, remained decreased even after N-acetylcysteine exposure. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine treatment may exert a protective effect against the oxidative damage in the brain, which was caused by the long-term consumption of the acceptable daily dose of aspartame by rats.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (CNPq), to the Comissão de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and to the Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (FIPE-UFSM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Roraima Avenue, 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, 97105-900, Brazil

    Isabela A. Finamor, Giovana M. Ourique, Tanise S. Pês, Etiane M. H. Saccol, Caroline A. Bressan, Bernardo Baldisserotto & Maria A. Pavanato

  2. Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 500 Sarmento Leite Street, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Taína Scheid & Wânia A. Partata

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), 954 Junín Street, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Susana F. Llesuy

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  1. Isabela A. Finamor
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  3. Tanise S. Pês
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  4. Etiane M. H. Saccol
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Correspondence to Maria A. Pavanato.

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Finamor, I.A., Ourique, G.M., Pês, T.S. et al. The Protective Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Oxidative Stress in the Brain Caused by the Long-Term Intake of Aspartame by Rats. Neurochem Res 39, 1681–1690 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-014-1360-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-014-1360-9

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