Avaliação dos efeitos decorrentes da exposição ao cloreto de alumínio sobre parâmetros motores, cognitivos e de estresse oxidativo em ratos

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is the third most abundant metal in the earth's crust, being present in large amounts in soil and water, its high bioavailability makes it an important environmental contaminant. Al is considered a neurotoxic agent and accumulates in the nervous system, being this behavior associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about its effects at doses similar to human consumption in the nervous and biochemical systems. Thus, this study investigated the effects of chronic exposure to aluminum chloride (AlCl3) on cognition, motor behavior and oxidative stress. For this, adult Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Al1 (8.3 mg / kg / day), Al2 (5.2 mg / kg / day) and Control (Distilled water) being exposed orally for 60 days. After the exposure period, behavioral, histological, oxidative stress parameters and quantification of aluminum levels in the blood were performed. There were no changes in motor behavior, there was change in only one exploratory parameter and in cognition. No differences were found in the population of the purkinje neurons between the experimental groups. Exposure to Al increased levels of this metal in the blood, also altering the parameters of oxidative biochemistry. Thus, we can affirm that exposure to Al in rats, at doses equivalent to urban exposure and in potentially safe doses are capable of promoting breakage of blood homeostasis, altering hippocampal biochemical balance, generating a state of oxidative stress and cognitive damage, not being able to promote significant changes in the cerebellum and motor parameters.