ACRYLAMIDE INFLUENCE ON THE ACTIVITY OF CHOLINESTERASES, OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS, CASPASE-3 EXPRESSION AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE FOREBRAIN OF CHICKEN EMBRYOS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of acrylamide (ACR), a common neurotoxin, on the neuroepithelial cells utilizing in ovo model for embryonic brain development. On day five (E5), 75 eggs with living embryos were randomly divided into three groups: one control and two experimental (n=25) and injected with 0.7% NaCl and/or ACR saline solution at the dose of 30 μg or 300 μg per egg , respectively. The injections were performed directly into the amniotic fluid, and after 7 h of incubation, tissues the brain was collected Additionally, for the brain microstructure evaluation brain tissues were obtained from 10th day embryos. Immunohistochemical localization of caspase-3 and histochemical staining demonstrated deterioration and significant damage to neuroepithelial cells and affected caspase-3 distribution/expression in brain. Results of biochemical assays showed increased activity of enzymes (SOD, AChE, BuChE) whereas ACR had no impact on the MDA concentration. This suggests that ACR has no direct impact on the caspases, and its action is an effect of SOD response to free radicals probably. ACR has an impact on the activity of cholinergic nerves and brain cytoarchitecture of the developing embryos. All of the observed effects suggests serious influence of ACR on the developing brain by several different mechanisms.