Efeitos da exposição aguda ao cloreto de alumínio (AlCl3) sobre a pressão arterial, reatividade vascular e estresse oxidativo em ratos

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is the most common metal and its high bioavailability points this as an important environmental contaminant. Aluminum can be accumulated in several organs and has been associated with several diseases, mainly neurological disorders. At cardiovascular system, there are not enough evidences of Al-induced dysfunction. We investigated the effects of acute exposure to aluminum chloride (AlCl3) on blood pressure, oxidative stress and vascular reactivity. Male Wistar rats were divided into groups: Untreated: vehicle (ultrapure water, ip) and AlCl3: single dose of AlCl3 (100 mg/kg ip). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in anesthetized rats by cannulation of carotid artery immediately before and after one hour of aluminum administration. Aortic rings reactivity was investigated in isolated organ bath and concentration-response curves to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine were performed in the presence and absence of endothelium, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME, the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin, the K+ channels blocker TEA and the superoxide anion scavenger SOD. Nitric oxide (NO) released was studied in arteries; reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and nonprotein thiol levels were measured in plasma, as well as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activities. Serum aluminum concentration after a single intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 reaches 147.7 ± 25.0 μg/L. This treatment did not change blood pressure, although inducing the following effects: 1) decreased vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine; 2) increased negative endothelial modulation and nitric oxide released as well as vascular reactive oxygen species production from NADPH oxidase, mainly superoxide anions; 3) increased malondialdehyde and thiol levels; 4) enhanced catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities and 5) decreased SOD activity. Therefore, AlCl3-acute exposure promotes vascular changes. This effect seems to be 10 associated with increased nitric oxide bioavailability, possibly acting on K+ channels, seems to occur probably as a compensatory mechanism on oxidative stress. These results suggest that this metal might be considered as a cardiovascular toxic agent.