The individual toxic effects of
aluminum and acrylamide are known but there is no data on their combined effects. The present study investigates the toxic effects after combined exposure to these toxicants on: (i) oxidative stress during combined chronic exposure to
aluminum and acrylamide on kidney function (ii) correlation of oxidative stress with
metallothionein (MT) and inflammatory
cytokines expression, DNA damage, and histopathological changes. Rats were exposed to
aluminum (50 mg/kg
body weight) in
drinking water and acrylamide (20 mg/kg
body weight) by gavage either individually or in combination for 3 weeks. Exposure rats to
aluminum chloride or acrylamide alone and in combination induced nephrotoxicity, as evidenced by a decrease in the 24-h urine volume and
uric acid levels in plasma and an increase of plasma
creatinine,
urea, and blood
urea nitrogen levels. Nephrotoxicity was objectified by a significant increase in
malondialdehyde level, advanced oxidation
protein, and
protein carbonyl contents, whereas
reduced glutathione, nonprotein
thiol,
vitamin C levels,
catalase, and
glutathione peroxidase activities showed a significant decline.
Superoxide dismutase activity and its gene expression were increased.
Aluminum and acrylamide co-exposure exhibited synergism in various biochemical variables and also in DNA damage. Kidney total MT levels and genes expression of MT1, MT2, and proinflammatory
cytokines were increased. All these changes were supported by histopathological observations. Co-exposure to
aluminum and acrylamide exhibited synergism and more pronounced toxic effects compared with their individual effects based on various biochemical variables, genotoxic, and histopathological changes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1044-1058, 2016.