@Article{, title={The Neuroprotective Effect of L-Cysteine Towards Cadmium or Nickel Neurotoxicity on Adult Rat Brain Antioxidant Status and Acetylcholinesterase Activity}, author={Hussam W. Al-Humadi}, journal={Karbala Journal of Medicine مجلة كربلاء الطبية}, volume={8}, number={1}, pages={2043-2048}, year={2015}, abstract={background: Cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni), as heavy metals, are the major environmental and industrial contaminant ions which can exert serious oxidative and neurotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of the antioxidant property of L-cysteine (Cys) on the adult rat brain total antioxidant status (TAS) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity induced by Cd or Ni administration.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: A (saline-treated negative control), B (Cys-positive control, 7 mg/kg), C (Cd, 3CdSO4. 8H2O, 1 mg/kg), D (Ni, NiCl2, 13 mg/kg), E (Cd+Cys) and F (Ni+Cys). All rats were treated once daily for 7 days with intraperitoneal injections of the tested compounds. Rats were killed by decapitation and mentioned parameters were measured spectrophotometrically.Results: The rat brain AChE activity was significantly increased by Cd, Ni and Cys (P<0.001 vs control for all), while it was adjusted into control levels by the co-administration of Cys with Cd (P<0.001 vs control, P<0.05 vs Cys) or with Ni (non-significant vs control, P<0.001 vs Cys). Moreover, the treatment with Cd or Ni alone was exhibited a significant reduction in brain TAS (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively vs control) that was statistically significant reversed near to control by Cys co-administration (P<0.05 vs Cd or Ni); Cys group alone had mild effect on TAS.Conclusion: The exposure to Cd in vivo causes a more statistically significant decrease in the rat brain TAS and an increase in AChE activity than the exposure to Ni. Both effects can be, significantly reversed into the control levels by Cys co-administration but Cys could be considered more neuroprotective agent against chronic exposure to Cd than Ni regarding the above parameters.

} }