In the present study, adult, healthy male Wistar rats (120 ± 10 g) were pre-treated by intragastric administration of cerium chloride (CeCl3) 10 mg/kg (BW) each day during 60 days. Control animal were treated with omega 3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3), by an intragastric administration at 10 mg/kg of BW for 60 days. Our results showed that CeCl3-induced alterations in all tested oxidative stress markers. In fact, CeCl3-induced the increase the level of both the creatinine concentration and the expression of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and transaminase activities in serum. On the other hand, CeCl3 significantly increased the levels of lipid peroxidation in the renal and hepatic tissues. The capacity of CeCl3 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) could explain his ability to induce morphological alterations, such as centrilobular hemorrhage, hepatic necrosis, and vacuolization of the cytoplasm in hepatic tissues, and the atrophy of the glomerulus and dilatation of urinary space in renal tissues. However, omega 3, after gastric administration, reduced significantly the toxic effect caused by CeCl3 according to his high ability to scavenge ROS. The present study indicates that omega 3 is a significant compound with protective activity against intoxication with heavy metal, the cerium, and thus may be useful for chemoprevention.
Keywords: Heavy metal; Hepatic and renal toxicities; Omega 3; Protective effect; Reactive oxygen species.