Antioxidant activity of the organotellurium compound 3-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzenetellurenyl]propanesulfonic acid against oxidative stress in synaptosomal membrane systems and neuronal cultures

Antioxidant activities of 3-[4-(NN-dimethylamino) benzenetellurenyl]propane sulfonic acid sodium salt (NDBT) were evaluated in solution, red blood cel ls, synaptosomal membranes, and cultured hippocampal neuronal cells after e xposure to peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and hydroxyl radicals. The organotellurium compound NDBT possesses significant activity towards hydrogen peroxide and /or the hydroxyl radical in solution, demonstrated by inhibition of hydroxy lation of tereplithalic acid. In addition, the compound displayed great ant ioxidant abilities as shown by: reduction of ONOO--induced 2,7-dichlorofluo rescein (DCF) fluorescence in synaptosomes; complete prevention of lipid pe roxidation in synaptosomes caused by OH radicals (TBARS), and significant p revention of protein oxidation caused by ONOO- and OH, indexed by the level s of protein carbonyls in synaptosomes and neuronal cells. The presence of the compound abolished neuronal cell death caused by ONOO-. Further, the co mpound was effective in preventing the oxidative changes in synaptosomal me mbrane protein conformation and crosslinking (EPR spin labeling). Finally, the organotellurium molecule attenuated peroxynitrite-induced, luminol-depe ndent chemilummescence in red blood cells an index of cellular oxidation. T hese findings demonstrate the great potential of the antioxidant and are co nsistent with the notion that NDBT may have a role to play in modulating ox idative stress in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's diseas e. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BY All rights reserved.