Time-dependent changes of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status in nerve tissues of hens treated with tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP).

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) could induce a delayed neurodegenerative condition known as organophosphorus easter-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) in human beings and sensitive animals. However, the mechanisms of OPIDN remain unknown. This study investigated the time-dependent changes of the lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and antioxidative status (glutathione, GSH; glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px; glutathione reductase, GR; superoxide dismutase, SOD and anti-reactive oxygen species, anti-ROS) in nerve tissues for elucidating the mechanism of OPIDN induced by TOCP. Adult hens were treated with TOCP by gavage at a single dosage of 750 mg/kg. TOCP was dissolved in corn oil and administered at 0.65 ml/kg. The control hens received an equivalent volume of corn oil by gavage. Hens were sacrificed after 0, 5, 10, 15 and 21 days of treatment and the cerebrum, spinal cord, sciatic nerve were dissected, homogenized and used for the determination of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status. The results showed that treatment with TOCP increased lipid peroxidation and reduced the antioxidative status in cerebrum, spinal cord and sciatic nerve. The levels of MDA increased by 33% (P<0.01) in cerebrum on 5th day after TOCP treatment and at clinical sign score of 1-2, and increased respectively by 32% and 15% (P<0.01) in spinal cord and sciatic nerve on 10th day after TOCP treatment and at clinical sign score of 3-4. Further changes of MDA were also observed after 15 and 21 days post-dosing and at clinical sign score of 5-6 and 7-8. There is a decrease in the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, GR, anti-ROS, and GSH content in cerebrum, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of hens after 5, 10, 15 and 21 days post-dosing and at clinical sign score of 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8. Thus, OPIDN induced by TOCP was associated with elevation of lipid peroxidation and reduction of antioxidative status, and the time-dependent changes of these indexes in hens nerve tissues occurred. Sciatic nerve was the main target tissue and MDA was most sensitive among all indexes. The time-dependent and tissue specific changes of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status in cerebrum, spinal cord and sciatic nerve suggest that ROS and concomitant lipid peroxidation, at least in part, are involved in the toxic effects of TOCP on nerve tissues and that oxidative stress may play a role in the occurrence and development of OPIDN induced by TOCP.