Oxidative damage of sulphur dioxide inhalation in brain and lungs of rats under natural and laboratory conditions Sood Prerna*, Singla Neena Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab *Corresponding author: prernasood@pau.edu
Online published on 28 September, 2023. Abstract Effect of sulphur dioxide (SO2) on antioxidant enzymes and histopathological changes was investigated in brain and lungs of rats of both the sexes under natural and experimental conditions. Naturally exposed, house rats, Rattus rattus were collected from agricultural fields alongside the road at Ludhiana, India. Laboratory house rats were exposed to different concentrations of SO2 (5ppm, 10ppm and 15 ppm for 5 hours /day for 28 days in 1 m3 exposure chamber). Control rats were exposed to filtered air in a similar chamber. The results showed that SO2 exposure at all the tested concentrations caused a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation process in the brains and lungs of rats of both the sexes that is supplemented by changes of antioxidant status in these organs as compared to field rats. The results lead to conclusion that SO2 can cause oxidative damage to brain and lungs of rats. So, SO2 is a toxin to brain and lungs of mammals as rats have physiology similar to that of humans. Thus, studying the toxic effect of increased concentrations of SO2 is the need of hour as increasing pollution is a cause of concern for humans as SO2 is one of the major pollutants in the air. Top Keywords Brain, Lungs, Oxidative damage, Rats, Sulphur dioxide (SO2). Top |