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Chronic methylphenidate administration alters antioxidant defenses and butyrylcholinesterase activity in blood of juvenile rats

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Abstract

Methylphenidate (MPH), a psychostimulant that affects both dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems, is one of the most frequently prescribed treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The present study investigated the effects of chronic administration of MPH on some parameters of oxidative stress, as well as on butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity in blood of young rats. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of MPH (2.0 mg/kg) once a day, from the 15th to the 45th day of age or an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline solution (controls). Two hours after the last injection, animals were euthanized, and blood was collected. Results demonstrated that MPH did not alter the dichlorofluorescein formed, decreased both thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total non-enzymatic radical-trapping antioxidant, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, suggesting that this psychostimulant may alter antioxidant defenses. BuChE activity was increased in blood of juvenile rats subjected to chronic MPH administration. These findings suggest that MPH may promote peripheral oxidative adaptations and cholinergic changes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq—Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Neuroproteção e Doenças Metabólicas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600-Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil

    Felipe Schmitz, Emilene Barros da Silva Scherer, Maira Jaqueline da Cunha, Aline Andrea da Cunha, Carlos Alexandre Netto & Angela Terezinha de Souza Wyse

  2. Departamento de Medicina, Universidade da Região de Joinville—UNIVILLE, Campus Universitário, Bairro Bom Retiro, Joinville, SC, CEP 89201-972, Brazil

    Daniela Delwing Lima

  3. Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Centro de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, Blumenau, SC, CEP 89012-900, Brazil

    Débora Delwing

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  1. Felipe Schmitz
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Correspondence to Angela Terezinha de Souza Wyse.

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Schmitz, F., Scherer, E.B.d., da Cunha, M.J. et al. Chronic methylphenidate administration alters antioxidant defenses and butyrylcholinesterase activity in blood of juvenile rats. Mol Cell Biochem 361, 281–288 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-011-1113-x

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