Dimethoate Induced Oxidative Damage and Histopathological Changes in lung of Adult rats: Modulatory Effects of Selenium and/or Vitamin E

Key words: 
• Dimethoate /
• Selenium /
• Vitamin E /
• Rats /
• Lung /
• Antioxidant status /
• Histopathological studies

Abstract: Objective To determine the efficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E to alleviate lung oxidative damage induced by dimethoate,an organophosphorus compound.Methods Adult Wistar rats were exposed during 30 days either to dimethoate (0.2 g/L of drinking water),dimethoate+selenium (0.5 mg/kg of diet),dimethoate+vitamin E (100 mg/kg of diet),or dimet hoate+selenium+vitamin E.Results Exposure to dimethoate caused oxidative stress in lung evidenced by an increase of malondialdehyde,protein carbonyl groups and advanced oxidation protein products.An increase in glutathione peroxidase,superoxide dismutase,catalase and a decrease in acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities,glutathione,non-protein thiols and vitamins C levels were observed.Histopathological changes in lung tissue were noted as emphysema,hemorrhages and hemosiderin deposits.Co-administration of selenium or vitamin E to the diet of dimethoate treated rats ameliorated the biochemical parameters as well as histological impairments.The joint effect of these elements was more powerful in antagonizing dimethoate-induced lung oxidative damage.Conclusion We concluded that selenium and vitamin E ameliorated the toxic effects of this pesticide in lung tissue suggesting their role as potential antioxidants.