The level of creatine phosphokinase activity in rat serum as a marker of C(60) fullerene efficacy in attenuation of chronic glyphosate poisoning

Background: Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in agriculture. There is a substantial evidence of its adverse effects on the physiological functions in living organisms. In vivo studies indicate a correlation between organophosphate poisoning and blood creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level. It is hypothesized that C60 fullerene, acting as potent ROS scavenger, can modulate the progression of this pathological process. Objective: To evaluate the level of CPK activity in serum under rat chronic glyphosate poisoning using C60 fullerene as a potential protective nanoagent. Methods: C60 fullerene aqueous solution (C60FAS) was obtained by C60 transfer from toluene into water under ultrasonic treatment. Male Wister rats were devided in four groups (n = 10 in each). Glyphosate was administered orally on a daily basis for 120 days. The 1st and 2nd groups received herbicide at a doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg respectively, the 3rd and 4th groups received oral administration of C60FAS at a dose of 1 mg/kg daily immediately after herbicide exposure. The activity of CPK in blood serum was measured every 10 days using an HTI Biochem FC-120 automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: It was shown that the level of CPK activity in rat serum during chronic oral glyphosate administration for 120 days was elevated. With daily administration of the herbicide at a doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg the value of the parameter at the end of the experiment exceeded the control level by 57 ± 3% and 83 ± 4% respectively. Upon combined treatment with glyphosate and C60FAS at a dose of 1 mg/kg the level of CPK activity was decreased as compared to treatment with glyphosate only and by day 120 the protective effect of C60FAS amounted to 29 ± 2% regardless of the herbicide dose. Conclusions: The data obtained indicate the possibility of using changes in serum CPK as a marker of the efficacy of C60 fullerene therapy in mitigating the effects of herbicide poisoning.