Evaluation of oxidative stress in neurotoxicity induced by ketamine, ethanol and the combination of both substances in SH-SY5Y cells

• Grant number: 18/18582-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Tania Marcourakis
• Grantee: Gabriela Otofuji Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ketamine is an anesthetic commonly used illegally by adolescents and young adults in parties and raves, due to the fact that it presents psychotropic actions which intensifies social interaction. Ethanol, on the other hand, is a legal substance and its consumption is socially accepted, which can facilitate its abusive use, as well as the association with other substances, such as ketamine, which may cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system. In this way, the present project aims to investigate the neurotoxicity pathways, emphasizing the oxidative stress, after exposure to ketamine, ethanol and the combination of both substances in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Concentration-response curves for the substances will be performed using MTT cell viability assay. The activities of enzymes involved in the oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase) will be determined. Moreover, the determination of lipid peroxidation (malonaldehyde quantification) and 3-nitrotyrosine will also be performed. Methods described in this project include western blot, determination of enzymatic activities, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).