Effects of Potassium Dichromate and Boron on Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage in Rats

In this study, the effects of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and boron (B, as boric acid) on oxidative stress and DNA damage in rat serum and liver were investigated. Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups of 10 animals each. The first group was kept as the control group. The second and third groups received 5 and 10 mg/kg B, respectively, the forth group received 10 mg/kg K2Cr2O7, and the fifth and sixth groups received 5 and 10 mg/kg B plus K2Cr2O7, respectively, orally for two weeks. Compared with the control groups, serum MDA levels increased (P<0.01) and TAC levels decreased (P<0.001) in the K2Cr2O7 group. Serum MDA levels decreased in the K2Cr2O7+5 and 10 mg/kg B groups, but a significant decrease was found in the K2Cr2O7+10 mg/kg B group (P<0.01). Serum TAC levels showed a numerical increase in K2Cr2O7+B groups. The liver MDA level was significantly decreased in the K2Cr2O7+10 mg/kg B group compared to the other groups (P<0.01). There was no difference in plasma 8-OHdG levels between the groups. A positive correlation was observed between liver B and Cr levels (P<0.05). In this study, serum MDA and TAC levels were negatively affected in rats administered 10 mg/kg K2Cr2O7. In contrast, administration of 10 mg/kg B to the K2Cr2O7 group had positively effected on serum and liver lipid peroxidation indicators.