Protective effect of zinc sulfate and continuous/interval training on liver oxidative stress in morphine-withdrawal syndrome in rats

In this study, the effect of zinc sulfate (ZS) supplement and eight-week continuous training (CT) and interval training (IT) on liver oxidative stress of morphine-dependent rats following withdrawal syndrome (WS) were evaluated.

Seventy Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control rats, withdrawing rats (WS), withdrawing rats receiving 9mg/kg ZS orally (WS+Z), withdrawing rats under CT (WS+CT), withdrawing rats under IT (WS+IT), withdrawing rats under CT and receiving 9mg/kg zinc sulfate (WS+Z+CT), withdrawing rats under IT and receiving 9mg/kg zinc sulfate (WS+Z+IT). Animals were addicted by 0.4g/l morphine sulfate in 21 days. Animals in the training groups ran on a treadmill and received ZS 5 days/week for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, oxidative stress in liver tissue and liver enzymes were measured by spectrophotometric and ELISA methods.

ZS supplement, CT/IT led to decrease DNA damage and malondialdehyde in comparison with morphine group. Also, ZS, CT and IT significantly elevated levels in superoxide dismutase, catalase activity, total antioxidant capacity and thiol groups in the liver of rats in comparison with morphine group. Additionally, it is observed that ZS and CT/IT made a significant reduction in aspartate aminotransferase levels in comparison to the morphine group.

CT/IT with ZS because of its antioxidant effects has the potential to be used for decreased withdrawal syndrome complications.