This is to evaluate the extent of neurotoxicity in rats administered with a leaf extract
There are many enzymes that you can consider, I would choose the enzyme to follow depending on what you know about the possible detoxification routes and the laboratory's expertise.
The enzymes that are worth to consider are (not in any order of priority): catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. You may also consider measuring the level of GSH, GSSG, NAD(P) and NAD(P)H.
Hope this helps
Marc
Hi Nwonuma,
By all means, you might find an appropriate answer to you request in the paper of Dr. Swaroop et al (Intern J Pharmaceut Sci & Drug Res 2014; 6:41-47). They used 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a neurotoxin which is produced by various fungal species and is naturally present in leguminous plants which are commonly used to feed animals. 3-NP induced neurotoxicity in rats was assessed using following 6 tests: 1) Neurological scoring (administration of 3-NP resulted in significant motor abnormalities - some rats showed in-coordination and hind limb paralysis, some rats showed hind limb and forelimb paralysis and one rat showed marked gait abnormalities. They showed increase neurological score when compared to normal control rats). 2) Elevated plus maze paradigm (mean initial transfer latency on day 14th day was relatively stable in all the animals within the group); 3) Locomotor activity (administration of 3-NP from 8-14 days resulted in significant decrease in locomotor activity when compared to normal control animals); 4) Hanging wire test (animals treated with 3-NP from 8-14 days resulted in significantly decrease in grip strength when compared to normal control animals); 5) Cognitive dysfunction in 3- NP treatment. 6) Rota rod test (administration of 3-NP from 8-14 days significantly decreased motor coordination and body balance when compared to normal control rats).
As for specific enzymes to assay, you may choose from the ones beneath. Usually, in order to assess the sensitivity of several cell specific enzyme markers (tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glutamic acid decarboxylase, choline acetyltransferase, glutamine synthetase (GS), neuron specific and non-neuronal enolase and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase (CNP] as indices of neurotoxicity, changes in their activities were monitored after rats were treated with your leave extracts.
Best wishes,
Ilya
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Enzymes