2025/01/01 by Farha Shahabuddin, Samina Naseem, Farah Khan · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants and animals #Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
paper · doi:10.1139/bcb-2024-0236
openalex publication_date 2025/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
Aluminium (Al) toxicity has attracted considerable interest due to its bioavailability, environmental persistence, and adverse health effects. The present study investigates the effect of Al on rat erythrocytes under in vivo conditions. Rats were administered 0 (control), 25 (Al 1), 35 (Al 2), 45 (Al 3), and 55 (Al 4) mg/kg b.wt. of AlCl 3 orally for 30 days. Hemolysates were prepared from different experimental groups and assayed for various biochemical parameters. AlCl 3 administration significantly increased protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, while decreasing total sulfhydryl and glutathione levels in rat erythrocytes. Methemoglobin level was increased and methemoglobin reductase activity was decreased upon AlCl 3 treatment. Prolonged AlCl 3 exposure inhibited the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and lowered the cells’ antioxidant power. It also caused an increase in H 2 O 2 and NO levels showing generation of oxidative and nitrosative stress. AlCl 3 intoxication adversely affected the membrane-bound and metabolic enzyme activities. Alterations in all the biochemical parameters were found in an AlCl 3 dose-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy showed gross morphological changes in erythrocytes from discocytes to acanthocytes and echinocytes, further supporting the damaging effect of aluminium. The aluminium-induced oxidative stress seems to be the key mechanism of damage to the cellular components that could lead to red cell senescence.