Studies on the protective effects of betaine against oxidative damage during experimentally induced restraint stress in Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Stress can be defined as physical and psychological modifications that disrupt the homeostasis and the balance of organisms. Stress is known as one of the most important reasons of several diseases. In the present study, the anti-stress effect of betaine was evaluated with reference to its antioxidant property. Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups such as control, betaine, restraint stress (6 h/day for 30 days), and betaine+restraint stress. The oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the protein and corticosterone in plasma, lipid peroxidation, nonenzymic (reduced glutathione), and enzymic antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) in the lymphoid organs of thymus and spleen. Followed by the induction of restraint stress, the non-enzymic and enzymic antioxidants were significantly decreased with concomitant increase observed in the levels of corticosterone and lipid peroxidation. Oral pretreatment with betaine (250 mg/kg body weight daily for a period of 30 days) significantly (P<0.001) prevented the restraint stress-induced alterations in the levels of protein and corticosterone in plasma of experimental groups of rats. It counteracted the restraint stress-induced lipid peroxidation and maintained the antioxidant defense system in the lymphoid tissues at near normal. The findings suggest that betaine possesses significant anti-stress activity, which may be due to its antioxidant property.

Light and electron microscopic study on the effect of immobilization stress on adrenal cortex of adult rats and possible ameliorative role of vitamin E.

“…Many researchers [29] stated that exposure to stress stimulates various pathways leading to increased production of free radicals that contribute to the occurrence of pathological conditions. Immobilization stress may also impair the antioxidant defense system, leading to oxidative damage, by disturbing the balance between oxidant and antioxidant factors.…”

Betaine Supplementation for Various Clinical Disorders

“…Choline is oxidized into betaine in a two-step enzyme-dependent reaction in liver and kidney. Betaine is involved in the synthesis of methionine, which acts as a major supplier of cellular cysteine through transsulfuration pathway for the synthesis of reduced glutathione which protects the cell from reactive oxygen species [6]. In choline-mediated one-carbon metabolism, signaling functions, cell membrane structural integrity, and neurotransmitter synthesis betaine plays a major role.…”

“…In choline-mediated one-carbon metabolism, signaling functions, cell membrane structural integrity, and neurotransmitter synthesis betaine plays a major role. Betaine is proved to be safe at a daily intake of dosage 9-15 g [6] which should not exceed. Betaine is nontoxic at all doses (0-5% of the diet) which has determined from subacute and subchronic rat studies.…”

A single exposure of rats to water-immersion restraint stress induces oxidative stress more severely in the thymus than in the spleen

“…The same authors have also reported that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities are similar in the thymus and spleen of normal adult rats, although glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity is slightly higher in the spleen than in the thymus. 9,10 In contrast, Ganesan et al 11 have shown in normal adult rats that GSH and LPO levels and catalase and GPX activities are similar in the thymus and spleen, while SOD and glutathione S-transferase activities are lower in the thymus than in the spleen. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant to break the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes.…”

“…14 A recent report has shown that chronic exposure of adult rats to restraint stress (6 hours/day for 30 days) induces oxidative damage in the thymus and spleen through reductions of GSH level and SOD, catalase, GPX, and glutathione S-transferase activities and an increase in LPO level in the those tissues with an increase in serum corticosterone level. 11 To the best of our knowledge, however, there is no information on whether and how a single exposure of adult rats to WIRS as acute stress induces oxidative stress in the thymus and spleen.…”