Nano-rich diesel exhaust particles (NRDEPs) are an extensive range of toxic metals existing generally on environmental system and associated with nervous system disorders, including autism spectrum and induce apoptosis through oxidative stress. Our aim was to evaluate the potential effects of NRDEPs on the brain tissue as apoptosis inducer agent via oxidative stress in hand and the quercetin as powerful anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic on other hand. Forty pregnant (from the 5th to the 20th day of gestation) albino rats were randomly divided into control group which received normal saline and quercetin group which received 100 mg/kg quercetin. The 3rd one received 20 mg/kg of NRDEPs and the 4th received 100 mg/kg quercetin two hours prior to NRDEPs exposure. The dams were anaesthetized by the end of gestation and fetal brain was removed for immunohistochemistry, biochemical parameters estimation, comet assay and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that maternally co-treatment with quercetin diminished NRDEPs-induced oxidative stress (reduced MDA level, increased GSH level and enhanced both GST and PON activities). Moreover, quercetin also down regulated the expression of Bax and caspase-3 and reduced DNA fragmentation. These outcomes indicate that quercetin has a suppressive role against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by nano-rich diesel exhaust particles in rat fetal brain.

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