Comparative Effects of Deferiprone and Salinomycin on Lead-Induced Disturbance in the Homeostasis of Intrarenal Essential Elements in Mice

Evaluation of In Vivo Folic Acid Bioavailability in Different Mouse Strains Using Enzymatic Digestion Combined with Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography

By analyzing the folic acid content of various mouse strains through the use of in vivo studies, this study sought to determine whether folic acid bioavailability varies between hosts. In order to examine the stability of folic acid in the gastrointestinal tract, the rate at which it enters the blood, its retention in the organs, and its entry into the brain, folic acid was gavaged for 10 days into male and female mice of the following four strains: C57BL/6, BALB/c, ICR, and Kunming. Folic acid was extracted from eight groups of mice via solid phase extraction and triple enzyme extraction; the folic acid was subsequently quantified by ultraperformance liquid chromatography. In contrast to the other groups, female C57BL/6 mice exhibited substantially greater bioavailability as well as variations in organ retention and blood entry rates, as indicated by the experimental findings. This finding indicated that using female C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the bioavailability of folic acid is more effective.

Effects of Salinomycin and Deferiprone on Lead-Induced Changes in the Mouse Brain

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic heavy metal that has deleterious effects on the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of salinomycin (Sal) and deferiprone (DFP) on brain morphology and on the content of some essential elements in Pb-exposed mice. Adult male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were exposed to a daily dose of 80 mg/kg body weight ( b.w.) Pb(II) nitrate for 14 days and subsequently treated with Sal (16 mg/kg b.w.) or DFP (19 mg/kg b.w.) for another 14 days. At the end of the experimental protocol, the brains were processed for histological and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. Pb exposure resulted in a 50-fold increase in Pb concentration, compared with controls. Magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) were also significantly increased by 22.22% and 17.92%, respectively. The histological analysis of Pb-exposed mice revealed brain pathological changes with features of neuronal necrosis. Brain Pb level remained significantly elevated in Sal- and DFP-administered groups (37-fold and 50-fold, respectively), compared with untreated controls. Treatment with Sal significantly reduced Mg and P concentrations by 22.56% and 18.38%, respectively, compared with the Pb-exposed group. Administration of Sal and DFP ameliorated brain injury in Pb-exposed mice and improved histological features. The results suggest the potential application of Sal and DFP for treatment of Pb-induced neurotoxicity.