Comparative anxiolytic, motor coordination and antioxidant effects of vitamin C and rutin on Cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss white mice

Cadmium a common environmental pollutant and induces neurotoxicity by mechanisms including oxidative stress. This study therefore evaluated the possible effects of common antioxidants, vitamin C and Rutin on Cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Twenty-five Albino mice weighing 18-28g used for the study were randomly assigned into 5 groups namely, control, Cadmium-only, Cadmium+vitamin C, Cadmium+Rutin and Cadmium+Vitamin C+Rutin groups. After 21 days of administration, neurobehavioural evaluation of the mice was carried out, animals sacrificed and the brain excised for biochemical analysis. Results show a significant increase in foot slips in the Cadmium-only group compared with control (p<0.05) but differentially lower in all treated than in the Cadmium-only groups (p<0.05). Stretch attend posture was significantly reduced in the Cadmium+VitaminC+Rutin group compared with the control and Cadmium-only groups (p<0.05). Open arm entry duration was significantly decreased in the Cadmium+Vitamin C compared with control (p<0.05) groups. Duration of closed arm entry was significantly higher in the Cadmium+Vitamin C compared with the Cadmium-only groups. Dark box duration in the Cadmium+Rutin group was significantly reduced compared with Cadmium+vitamin C groups (p<0.05) and significantly higher in the Cadmium+Rutin than in the Cadmium+vitamin C groups in the light box duration. Brain concentrations of malondialdehyde were significantly increased in the Cadmium only compared with control (p<0.05) compared with Cadmuim-only group and lower in Cd+vitamin C than Cd+Rutin. Catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities activities were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in Cadmium-only group compared with control but increased in Cadmium+vitamin C and Cadmium+vitamin C+Rutin compared with Cadmium-only groups, and higher in Cd+Vitamin C than Cd+Rutin. We therefore conclude that Vitamin C may may play a more significant role in mitigating Cd-induced incoordination and oxidative stress in the mice than Rutin.