Effect of Cardioxane and Selenium on Lipoperoxidation and Levels of Dopamine in Rat Brain and Heart

Background: Cardioxane has been probed in patients with advanced malignancies to protect the heart. Selenium, an essential micronutrient exerts varieties of functions such as antioxidant. The aim of this study was to test if cardioxane (CDX) and selenium (Se) have additive antioxidant protective effect on brain and heart, and their relation with dopamine levels. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats divided in groups of 6 animals each, were treated as follows: G1, saline solution 0.9% (control); G2, 100 mg/kg of CDX; G3, 60 μg/kg of Se; G4, 20 mg/kg of 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP); G5, 3NP + CDX and G6, 3NP + Se. 3NP was used as an oxidative stress inducer. Drugs were administered intraperitoneally for 5 days. The animals were sacrificed on the last day of treatment and the brain and heart were extracted and used to measure lipid peroxidation, dopamine, glutathione (GSH), ATPase, calcium, and H2O2. Results: In G2 and G5, dopamine decreased in cortex and striatum while GSH increased in heart, cortex and cerebellum/medulla oblongata. ATPase activity increased in heart and cortex of groups 2, 3, 5 and 6. Lipoperoxidation and H2O2 increased in cortex of animals treated with 3NP. Conclusion: These results suggest that CDX increases antioxidant capacity in the brain and heart while selenium promotes alteration in dopamine metabolism in view of the capacity of 3NP to generate free radicals.