The impact of Vitamin C in prevention of lead toxicities in the quail’s brain

Objectives: The antioxidant activity of Vitamin C (VIT C) has been examined by testing different concentrations of this vitamin. The experiment was conducted to investigate bioaccumulation of lead (Pb) in brain tissues of quail with treatment of VIT C in 500 ppm concentration. We also assessed changes in the indices of oxidative stress in quail brain.Materials Methods: For this purpose quail chicks from day 1 to 35 were randomly allocated to 4 groups. Quail chicks in group I were considered as a control group. In groups II chicks were received 500 ppm of VIT C and group III 100 ppm of lead acetate. Quails in groups IV were received 500 ppm VIT C+100 ppm Pb. After 35 days, the amount of Pb, the level of lipid peroxides and the activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) were assessed.Results and Conclusion: The concentrations of Pb significantly increased in the group which received Pb compare to the control group. Treatment of VIT C significantly reduced the Pb accumulation in brain tissue compared to the group III. This study showed that the activities of SOD, CAT and GPx significantly decreased in the groups those receiving Pb compared to the control group (p 0.05). Quails exposed to Pb and treated with VIT C reduced oxidative stress as evidenced from lower concentration of lipid peroxides and higher activities of SOD, CAT and GPx compared to quails exposed to Pb (p 0.05). Taken together, results suggested that VIT C have potential to reduce accumulation of Pb and can be able to reduction of lipid peroxidation and increased the enzymatic activity (p 0.05).