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Studies on the protective effects of betaine against oxidative damage during experimentally induced restraint stress in Wistar albino rats

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Cell Stress and Chaperones Aims and scope

Abstract

Stress can be defined as physical and psychological modifications that disrupt the homeostasis and the balance of organisms. Stress is known as one of the most important reasons of several diseases. In the present study, the anti-stress effect of betaine was evaluated with reference to its antioxidant property. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups such as control, betaine, restraint stress (6 h/day for 30 days), and betaine + restraint stress. The oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the protein and corticosterone in plasma, lipid peroxidation, non-enzymic (reduced glutathione), and enzymic antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) in the lymphoid organs of thymus and spleen. Followed by the induction of restraint stress, the non-enzymic and enzymic antioxidants were significantly decreased with concomitant increase observed in the levels of corticosterone and lipid peroxidation. Oral pretreatment with betaine (250 mg/kg body weight daily for a period of 30 days) significantly (P < 0.001) prevented the restraint stress-induced alterations in the levels of protein and corticosterone in plasma of experimental groups of rats. It counteracted the restraint stress-induced lipid peroxidation and maintained the antioxidant defense system in the lymphoid tissues at near normal. The findings suggest that betaine possesses significant anti-stress activity, which may be due to its antioxidant property.

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Acknowledgements

Facilities provided by the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also would like to express their sincere thanks to Smt. P. A. Jaya, Smt. N. Lekha, and Smt. Tessy Francis for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vinayaka Missions University, Ariyanoor, Salem, 636308, Tamil Nadu, India

    Balaraman Ganesan

  2. Biochemistry and Nutrition Division, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Matsyapuri (PO), Cochin, 682029, India

    Balaraman Ganesan, Rangasamy Anandan & Pindath Thandayan Lakshmanan

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  1. Balaraman Ganesan
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  2. Rangasamy Anandan
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  3. Pindath Thandayan Lakshmanan
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Correspondence to Balaraman Ganesan.

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Ganesan, B., Anandan, R. & Lakshmanan, P.T. Studies on the protective effects of betaine against oxidative damage during experimentally induced restraint stress in Wistar albino rats. Cell Stress and Chaperones 16, 641–652 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-011-0276-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-011-0276-4

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