Combined effects of Fasciola hepatica infection and copper intoxication on oxidative/antioxidative status in rats

The aim of our study was to investigate parameters of oxidative/antioxidative status in rats experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica and treated with a copper salt. The experiment was carried out on 24 male Wistar albino rats, divided into 4 groups with 6 animals in each: group 1 – healthy untreated animals, group 2 – rats orally infected with F. hepatica; group 3 – rats treated with CuSO4. 5H2O and group 4 – rats experimentally infected with F. hepatica and treated with CuSO4.5H2O. Rats from group 2 and 4 were orally infected with 15 viable F. hepatica metacercariae per animal. Rats from group 3 and 4 received CuSO4.5H2O dissolved in drinking water at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight after post infestation week 2. Copper administration lasted 2 weeks. The rats were euthanised on the 35th day post infestation. The levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione, and the activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver of all rats were established. Increased liver MDA level was observed in groups infected and untreated with copper compared to control level. Reduced Cu,Zn-SOD activity was found in all infected rats as well as insignificant increase of the enzyme in group 3 compared to control group value. GPx activity was reduced in similar manner in the treated and infected groups compared to the control group. GSH level was lower in all treated rats than in controls (P