Abstract
The balance between prooxidants and antioxidants is crucial to the survival and functioning of aerobic organisms. Partially reduced derivatives of oxygen, which are produced in aerobic organisms as part of normal physiological and metabolic processes, are toxic species, oxidizing numerous biomolecules, which initiate tissue injury and cell death. DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) known to cause tumors in rats. DMBA is known to generate DNA-reactive species, which may enhance oxidative stress in cells, during its metabolism. Besides the formation of DNA adducts, oxidative products derived from mutagen metabolism, such as DMBA, might impair vital cellular functions by damaging proteins and lipid membranes. Synthetic organoselenium compounds inhibit the initiation phase of carcinogenesis by inhibiting DMBA-DNA adduct formation in the target organ in vivo. Because of the health problems induced by many environmental pollutants, many efforts have been undertaken to evaluate the relative antioxidant potential of selenium and synthetic organoselenium compounds. We undertook the present study to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of the novel synthetic organoselenium compounds (1-isopropyl-3-methylbenzimidazole-2-selenone (SeI) and 1,3-di-p-methoxybenzylpyrimidine-2-selenone (SeII)) in the well-established DMBA-treated rat model by monitoring the extent of lipid peroxidation and mammary duct damage. In this study, adult female Wistar rats were treated with DMBA and the novel organoselenium compounds (SeI and SeII) in determined doses. In DMBA-treated rats, the effects of the organoselenium compounds on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histological changes in the rat mammary lactiferous duct were studied. The ability of the organoselenium compounds to prevent oxidative damage induced by DMBA in rat mammary ducts was demonstrated. Protection against lipid peroxidation measured as MDA in the SeI and SeII treated groups was provided by the novel synthesized organoselenium compounds. SeI and SeII both provided chemoprevention against DMBA-induced oxidative stress in the rat mammary duct.
