Carbonated soft drinks induce oxidative stress and alter the expression of certain genes in the brains of Wistar rats

  • Authors:
    • Adel El‑Terras
    • Mohamed Mohamed Soliman
    • Adel Alkhedaide
    • Hossam Fouad Attia
    • Abdullah Alharthy
    • Abdel Elah Banaja
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  • Published online on: February 18, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.4903
  • Pages: 3147-3154
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Abstract

In Saudi Arabia, the consumption of carbonated soft drinks is common and often occurs with each meal. Carbonated soft drink consumption has been shown to exhibit effects on the liver, kidney and bone. However, the effects of these soft drinks on brain activity have not been widely examined, particularly at the gene level. Therefore, the current study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effects of chronic carbonated soft drink consumption on oxidative stress, brain gene biomarkers associated with aggression and brain histology. In total, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Group 1 served as a control and was provided access to food and water ad libitum; and groups 2‑4 were given free access to food and carbonated soft drinks only (Cola for group 2, Pepsi for group 3 and 7‑UP for group 4). Animals were maintained on these diets for 3 consecutive months. Upon completion of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and serological and histopathological analyses were performed on blood and tissues samples. Reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze alterations in gene expression levels. Results revealed that carbonated soft drinks increased the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Carbonated soft drinks were also observed to downregulate the expression of antioxidants glutathione reductase (GR), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the brain when compared with that in the control rats. Rats administered carbonated soft drinks also exhibited decreased monoamine oxidase A (MAO‑A) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) serum and mRNA levels in the brain. In addition, soft drink consumption upregulated mRNA expression of dopamine D2 receptor (DD2R), while 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5‑HTT) expression was decreased. However, following histological examination, all rats had a normal brain structure. The results of this study demonstrated that that carbonated soft drinks induced oxidative stress and altered the expression of certain genes that are associated with the brain activity and thus should be consumed with caution.
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April-2016
Volume 13 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
El‑Terras A, Soliman MM, Alkhedaide A, Attia HF, Alharthy A and Banaja AE: Carbonated soft drinks induce oxidative stress and alter the expression of certain genes in the brains of Wistar rats. Mol Med Rep 13: 3147-3154, 2016.
APA
El‑Terras, A., Soliman, M.M., Alkhedaide, A., Attia, H.F., Alharthy, A., & Banaja, A.E. (2016). Carbonated soft drinks induce oxidative stress and alter the expression of certain genes in the brains of Wistar rats. Molecular Medicine Reports, 13, 3147-3154. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.4903
MLA
El‑Terras, A., Soliman, M. M., Alkhedaide, A., Attia, H. F., Alharthy, A., Banaja, A. E."Carbonated soft drinks induce oxidative stress and alter the expression of certain genes in the brains of Wistar rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 13.4 (2016): 3147-3154.
Chicago
El‑Terras, A., Soliman, M. M., Alkhedaide, A., Attia, H. F., Alharthy, A., Banaja, A. E."Carbonated soft drinks induce oxidative stress and alter the expression of certain genes in the brains of Wistar rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 13, no. 4 (2016): 3147-3154. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2016.4903