Department of Physiology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Department of Chemistry and Toxicity of Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.
Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2019 Jun;157:13-18. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.01.014. Epub 2019 Feb 26.
Malathion is one of the most commonly used organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. It is important to regard that exposure to OP poisoning may cause anxiety and depression. Malathion toxicity induces cholinergic symptoms. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most profusely expressed neurotrophin in the central nervous system; it promotes the survival of neurons. Regular exercise improves brain well-being and enhances recovery from brain Injuries. It is suggested that BDNF may mediate these effects. Therefore, this study was planned to assess the modulatory effects of regular exercise performance on brain BDNF level, cholinergic activity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in male and female rats subjected to neurotoxicity induced by malathion administration.
Thirty-two adult male and thirty-two adult female albino rats were included in this study. The rats were divided into four equal groups (8rats). Control group, malathion treated group, exercised group, malathion exercised group. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), BDNF level and Caspase 3 activity were assessed.
Female rats had higher baseline content of BDNF in brain homogenate than male rats. Malathion administration induced a significant decrease in BDNF level in female rats and in the total antioxidant capacity in both male and female rats. A significant elevation in caspase 3 activity was detected in the malathion treated groups, with more elevation in female rats. Swimming exercise improved BDNF level, AchE activity, and apoptosis in both male and female rats in all groups. In addition, male rats were more cholinergic system responders to regular exercise than female rats.
It could be concluded that malathion induced elevation in oxidative stress and apoptosis in all rats, with reduction in BDNF level in female rats. Meanwhile, regular swimming exercise was found to improve brain health through modulation of BDNF level and cholinergic activity. It is recommended to practice regular exercise to maintain brain health. Further studies are required to clarify the involvement of sex hormones in BDNF regulation.
马拉硫磷是最常用的有机磷（OP）农药之一。重要的是要注意，接触 OP 中毒可能会导致焦虑和抑郁。马拉硫磷毒性引起胆碱能症状。脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是中枢神经系统中表达最丰富的神经营养因子；它促进神经元的存活。有规律的运动可以改善大脑健康，并增强大脑损伤的恢复能力。有研究表明，BDNF 可能介导这些作用。因此，本研究旨在评估有规律的运动对雄性和雌性大鼠在马拉硫磷给药引起的神经毒性后大脑 BDNF 水平、胆碱能活性、氧化应激和细胞凋亡的调节作用。
本研究纳入了 32 只成年雄性和 32 只成年雌性白化大鼠。将大鼠分为四组（每组 8 只）。对照组、马拉硫磷处理组、运动组、马拉硫磷运动组。测定乙酰胆碱酯酶（AchE）活性、总抗氧化能力（TAC）、BDNF 水平和 Caspase 3 活性。
雌性大鼠大脑匀浆中的 BDNF 基础含量高于雄性大鼠。马拉硫磷给药后，雌性大鼠 BDNF 水平显著降低，雌雄大鼠总抗氧化能力均降低。马拉硫磷处理组 caspase 3 活性显著升高，且雌性大鼠升高更明显。游泳运动可提高各组雄性和雌性大鼠的 BDNF 水平、AchE 活性和细胞凋亡。此外，雄性大鼠对有规律运动的胆碱能系统反应比雌性大鼠更敏感。
马拉硫磷可引起所有大鼠氧化应激和细胞凋亡增加，雌性大鼠 BDNF 水平降低。同时，有规律的游泳运动被发现可以通过调节 BDNF 水平和胆碱能活性来改善大脑健康。建议进行有规律的运动来保持大脑健康。需要进一步的研究来阐明性激素在 BDNF 调节中的作用。
