Exposure to environmental metal pollutants is linked to oxidative stress and the subsequent development of neurological disease. In this study, the effects of copper, manganese, and mercury, were evaluated at X100 the World Health Organization safety limits for drinking water. Using a Sprague-Dawley rat model, following exposure for 28 days, the effects of these metals on biochemical blood parameters and tissue and cellular structure of the brain were determined. Biochemical analysis revealed no hepatocellular injury with minor changes associated with the hepatobiliary system. Minimal changes were found for renal function and the Na + /K + ratio was reduced in the copper and manganese (Cu + Mn) and copper, manganese, and mercury (Cu, Mn + Hg) groups that could affect neurological function. Light microscopy of the brain revealed abnormal histopathology of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and pyramidal cells in the cerebrum as well as tissue damage and fibrosis of the surface blood vessels. Transmission electron microscopy of the cerebral neurons showed microscopic signs of axonal damage, chromatin condensation, the presence of indistinct nucleoli and mitochondrial damage. Together these cellular features suggest the presence and influence of oxidative stress. Exposure to these metals at X100 the safety limits, as part of mixtures, induces changes to neurological tissue that could adversely influence neurological functioning in the central nervous system.
Keyphrases
- oxidative stress
- induced apoptosis
- oxide nanoparticles
- cerebral ischemia
- drinking water
- dna damage
- electron microscopy
- health risk
- health risk assessment
- cell cycle arrest
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- diabetic rats
- white matter
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- resting state
- human health
- ionic liquid
- heavy metals
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- gene expression
- signaling pathway
- single cell
- functional connectivity
- blood brain barrier
- cell death
- high throughput
- spinal cord
- transcription factor
- spinal cord injury
- aqueous solution
- room temperature
- multiple sclerosis
- metal organic framework
- high speed
- mass spectrometry
- genome wide
- transition metal
- drug induced
- pi k akt