Protective effect of folic acid against oxidative stress produced in 21-day postpartum rats by maternal-ethanol chronic consumption during pregnancy and lactation period

Citation
Mj. Cano et al., Protective effect of folic acid against oxidative stress produced in 21-day postpartum rats by maternal-ethanol chronic consumption during pregnancy and lactation period, FREE RAD RE, 34(1), 2001, pp. 1-8
Citations number
47
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
FREE RADICAL RESEARCH
ISSN journal
1071-5762 → ACNP
Volume
34
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1 - 8
Database
ISI
SICI code
1071-5762(2001)34:1<1:PEOFAA>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
In this paper we show the protective effect of folic acid on oxidative stre ss in offspring caused by chronic maternal ethanol consumption during pregn ancy and the lactation period. Glutathione reductase (GR) specific activity was assayed in liver and pancreas of offspring and mothers. In the offspri ng, these tissues were also assayed for markers of oxidative damage to lipi ds and proteins. The results show that ethanol exposure during pregnancy an d lactation increased the specific activity of GR in tissues of the mothers (32-34 % increase) as well as in the liver of their progeny (24 %). Thioba rbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were also increased in the liver and pancreas of 21-day-old rats (37- and 54 %, respectively). Alcohol also increased the amount of carbonyl groups in proteins in both tissues. These measures of ethanol-mediated oxidative stress were mitigated when pregnant rats were treated with folic acid concomitantly to ethanol administration. The antioxidant capacity of folic acid seems to be involved in its protecti ve effect. The results obtained in the present work suggest that folic acid may be useful in the prevention of damage and promotion of health of the p rogeny of ethanol-treated rats.