Effect of acute exposure of N,N-dimethylformamide, an industrial solvent on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in liver and kidney of rats.

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), an industrial solvent widely used throughout the world is a known toxic compound. Here, we studied the effects of acute exposure of DMF on liver and kidney in rats. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of DMF (1.5 g/kg) for 24 and 48 h. Hepatic and nephrotoxicity was confirmed based on the significant increase in the serum levels of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, urea, creatinine and electrolytes. Oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidants in liver and kidney. The LPO levels were elevated in both the tissues upon DMF exposure, whereas the activities of enzymatic antioxidants SOD, CAT and Gpx and non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione and vitamin C) were declined. The hepatic- and nephrotoxicity was further confirmed by the increasing incidence of inflammation in the histopathological studies. The findings indicate that acute exposure of DMF results in oxidative stress, antioxidant deficiency, attenuating liver and kidney marker enzymes, resulting in tissue inflammation and damage.