Toxic effects of perinatal arsenic exposure on the brain of developing rats and the beneficial role of natural antioxidants

•Administration of arsenic during gestation and lactation is able to damage brain.•This is oxidative damage reflected in an increase in TBARS concentration.•Arsenic exposure increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities.•The selected natural antioxidants are able to alleviate the damage caused by arsenic.

The aim of this study was to determine what changes in biochemical parameters and in the antioxidant capacity occur in the brain of arsenic-exposed rats (50 mg As/L in drinking water) and investigate the protective effect of antioxidants as Zn, vitamin C and vitamin E during pregnancy and lactation. After arsenic-exposure, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was enhanced in arsenic group, returning to normal levels in the arsenic + antioxidants one. A significant increase of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was noted in both arsenic groups. Metalloide exposure caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS), whereas antioxidant administration reversed it. Catalase (CAT) activity in arsenic groups was increased, but no changes were found in the other groups. No significant effect of arsenic in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH) was noted. This study provides evidence of the deleterious effect of arsenic exposure during gestation and lactation and the beneficial role of antioxidants.