OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) on oxidation-antioxidation function of rat nerve tissues.

METHODSThirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the low-dosage exposure group and the high-dosage group, 10 rats each. The rats of the two exposure groups were administered with CS(2) by gavage at a dosage of 300 or 500 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), 5 times every week for continuous 12 weeks. The alterations in glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), hydrogen peroxidase (CAT) and total anti-oxidation (T-AOC) in cerebrum, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve of CS(2)-treated animals were assayed.

RESULTSThe results showed that the contents of MDA and ROS in nerve tissues of CS(2)-treated groups increased significantly except ROS in spinal cord and sciatic nerve of low dose group. The content of MDA was increased by 20.7% and 33.6% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 18.5% and 23.3% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 20.7% and 53.0% respectively in the sciatic nerve, The content of MOS was increased by 20.1% and 34.9% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, and by 14.1% and 15.4% respectively in the spinal cord and the sciatic nerve of the rats of the high-dosage group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT and T-AOC decreased significantly except GSH-Px and SOD in cerebrum of low dose group. The content of GSH was decreased by 17.2% and 26.5% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 26.4% and 31.2% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 15.1% and 20.0% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The content of T-AOC was decreased by 11.1 and 26.4% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 15.1% and 38.4% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 35.6% and 42.3% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of SOD was decreased by 12.1% and 25.4% respectively in the spinal cord of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group and by 16.4% and 30.3% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of GSH-Px was decreased by 17.3% and 32.5% respectively in the spinal cord of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group and by 17.1% and 21.5% respectively in the sciatic nerve. The activity of GSH-Px and SOD was decreased by 12.6% and 30.1% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the high-dosage group. The activity of CAT was decreased by 17.5% and 39.4% respectively in the cerebrum of the rats of the low-dosage group and the high-dosage group, by 25.2% and 31.3% respectively in the spinal cord, and by 17.1% and 36.9% respectively in the sciatic nerve (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSubchronic exposure to CS(2) can induce significant changes of oxidation-antioxidation function in rat nerve tissues, which might be related to CS(2)-induced neurotoxicity.