Studies on the protective effects of betaine against oxidative damage during experimentally induced restraint stress in wistar albino rats
Studies on the protective effects of betaine against oxidative damage during experimentally induced restraint stress in wistar albino rats
Date
2011
Authors
Ganesan, B.
Anandan, R.
Lakshmanan, P.T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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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, nonenzymic
(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.
Description
Keywords
restraint stress, antioxidant status, betaine, lipid peroxidation, corticosterone
Citation
Cell Stress Chaperones 16(6):641-652