Combined restraint stress and metal exposure paradigms in rats; cognitive assessment, brain oxidative stress, caspase-3 mediated responses, microglial activation, and myelin health
Oritoke Okeowo, Victor Anadu, Michael Aschner, Omamuyovwi Ijomone · FENS Forum 2024
Accumulation of heavy metals (Mn and Ni) and prolonged exposure to stress are associated with adverse health outcomes. Various studies have elucidated individually the impacts of stress and metal exposures on brain constituents and function. However, no study has examined the effects of co-exposure to stress, Mn, and Ni in the brain. This study addresses this gap by evaluating oxidative and glial responses, apoptotic activity, as well as cognitive processes in a rat model. Adult Wistar rats were exposed to vehicle (control), restraint stress, 25mg/kg of manganese (Mn) or nickel (Ni), and combi