Acute hexachlorocyclohexane-induced oxidative stress in rat cerebral hemisphere.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is reported to induce oxidative stress in liver and testis of rat. With an objective to examine its effect on brain tissue acute toxicity of HCH (10 and 20 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) on the antioxidant defense system of cerebral hemisphere of rat was evaluated. Lipid peroxidation (LPX) was elevated after 24 h in the crude homogenate and sub-cellular fractions (nuclear and mitochondrial) except the microsomal fraction in which LPX was induced after 6 h and remained elevated till 24 h. The pesticide elicited decrease in the activities of cytosolic total, CN(-)-sensitive (not at 24 h) and CN-resistant superoxide dismutases; total, Se-dependent and Se-independent glutathione peroxidases; and catalase throughout the measurement period. In contrast, glutathione reductase activity was elevated till 24 h after a fall at 6 h of pesticide exposure. Cerebral contents of glutathione and ascorbic acid were decreased in response to HCH. The results suggest the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of HCH-induced neurotoxicity in rat.