Dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene induces oxidative stress and reduces the binding capacity of the mitochondrial 18-kDa translocator protein in rat aorta

Abstract

In this study, rats surviving 18 weeks after 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) exposure showed robust pathological changes in the aorta. This correlated well with decreases in 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) binding capacity in this tissue. As expected, markers for oxidative stress, including thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances, and advanced oxidation protein products, showed that the applied DMBA exposure increased oxidative stress in the aorta. Our study suggests that TSPO may be involved in toxic DMBA effects in the aorta, including inflammatory responses and reactive oxygen species generation.