An investigation of the role of vitamin E in the protection of mice against microcystin toxicity.
The presence of cyanobacterial toxins in drinking and recreational waters represents a potential public health risk. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a potent cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxin produced by the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa. Chemoprotectant studies have indicated that membrane-active antioxidants such as vitamin E may offer protection against microcystin toxicity. This study investigated the effect of vitamin E supplementation on microcystin toxicity in mouse liver. Groups of mice were fed vitamin E supplements (8.33 or 33.3 U/mouse/day) for 4 weeks, with intraperitoneal doses of MC-LR extract (70% LD(50)) every 3 days from day 8. The potential benefits of vitamin E were evaluated based on lipid peroxidation, alanine transaminase ( ALT), and glutathione S-transferase ( GST) levels. Vitamin E supplementation at 33.3 U/mouse/day offered some protection against lipid peroxidation induced by repeated exposure to MC-LR extract and limited both the toxin-induced increase in ALT leakage and decrease in GST activity. Vitamin E supplementation at 66.6 U/mouse/day significantly increased the time to death and reduced the increase in liver percentage body weight induced in mice given a lethal dose challenge of MC-LR extract. Therefore, vitamin E, taken as a dietary supplement, may have a protective effect against chronic exposure to MC-LR.[1]References
- An investigation of the role of vitamin E in the protection of mice against microcystin toxicity. Gehringer, M.M., Govender, S., Shah, M., Downing, T.G. Environ. Toxicol. (2003) [Pubmed]
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