Therapeutic potential of N-acetyl cysteine with antioxidants (Zn and Se) supplementation against dimethylmercury toxicity in male albino rats

Mercury (Hg) is currently one of the most prevalent pollutants in the environment. Many studies have examined its effects on the health of both humans and animals. Experimental studies have shown that sulfur-containing nutrients play an important role as detoxification and protecting cell against the detrimental properties of mercury. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the toxicity induced by dimethylmercury in male rats through the activities of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase in serum and oxidative damage as acetyl cholinesterase activity in different regions of brain and lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione content, mean DNA damage in liver, kidney and brain of rats given dimethylmercury (10 mg/kg, p.o., once only) along with combination therapy of N-acetyl cysteine (2 mM/kg, i.p.), zinc (2 mM/kg, p.o.) and selenium (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 3 days. In the dimethylmercury group, activities of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase in serum, level of lipid peroxidation, mean DNA damage and mercury ion concentration were significantly higher whereas reduced glutathione content and the activity of acetyl cholinesterase were significantly lower compared to controls (P ≤ 0.05). Combined treatment of zinc and selenium with N-acetyl cysteine to dimethylmercury-exposed rats showed a substantial reduction in the levels of DMM-induced oxidative damage and comet tail length. In conclusion, the results of this study support that the supplementation of zinc and selenium with N-acetyl cysteine can improve the DMM induced blood and tissue biochemical oxidative stress and molecular alterations by recoupment in mean DNA damage.