Objectives: The aim of this study is to elucidate the possible mechanism of neurotoxic effect of acrylamide (AA) applied during pregnancy on fetal brain development and to show the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on AA toxicity.
Materials and methods: Four groups were formed with 9 pregnant rats each as control (C), acrylamide (AA), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), acrylamide plus N-acetylcysteine (AA plus NAC) groups. Caesarian section was implemented on the 20th day of pregnancy. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were analyzed and histopathologic examinations were performed in brain tissues of the fetuses.
Results: Our data indicated that AA caused necrotic death and hemorrhagic damages in fetal brain tissue with decreasing BNDF levels and increasing oxidative stress. N-acetylcysteine prevented the toxic effects of its on fetal brain (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Our study indicated that acrylamide has toxic effects in the fetal brain and N-acetylcysteine prevents its toxic effect.
C1 [Erdemli, Mehmet Erman] Omer Halisdemir Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Biochem, Nigde, Turkey.
[Aladag, M. Arif] Inonu Univ, Dept Neurosurg, Fac Med, Malatya, Turkey.
[Altinoz, Eyup] Karabuk Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Biochem, Karabuk, Turkey.
[Demirtas, Sezin; Turkoz, Yusuf] Inonu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Biochem, Malatya, Turkey.
[Yigitcan, Birgul] Inonu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Histol & Embryol, Malatya, Turkey.
[Bag, Harika Gozukara] Inonu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Biostat, Malatya, Turkey.