Alterations in brain histomorphology and some homogenate antioxidant bio-pointers in L-arginine co-exposed aspartameassaulted rats

Abstract

Assault-related oxidant effect of aspartame, an excitatory-non-nutritive sweetener, could be influenced by L-arginine, the sole precursor of a conditional antioxidant, nitric oxide. Herein, alterations in brain histomorphology and some homogenate antioxidant biopointers in L-arginine co-exposed aspartame-assaulted rats’ were evaluated in thirty male Wistar rats by standard protocols. Group A rats, control, were exposed to distilled water and had free access to feed. Groups B, C, D, E and F rats were, respectively exposed to aspartame (1000 mg/kg), aspartame (1000 mg/kg) plus Vitamin C (100 mg/kg), L-arginine (20 mg/kg), aspartame (1000 mg/kg) plus L-arginine (20 mg/kg) and aspartame (1000 mg/kg) plus L-arginine (40 mg/kg). Exposure to aspartame for twenty-one days caused a significantly increased  (p<0.05) catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, reduced glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and total protein concentrations but non-significantly reduced (p>0.05) ferric reducing antioxidant power in the rats’ brain homogenate, compared to  others. Brain histology of Groups A and F rats were preserved, compared to others. Thus, aspartame significantly compromised the determined antioxidant bio-pointers and histology while L-arginine particularly at 40 mg/kg ameliorated same in the rats’ brain via  apparent oxidant and antioxidant mechanism respectively.