title: Prevention by zinc of cadmium-induced alterations in pancreatic and hepatic functions.
abstract: Subacute cadmium treatment (CdCl2, 1 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days) in rats disturbs glucose homeostasis as shown by hyperglycemia and decreased glucose tolerance associated with suppression of insulin release, enhancement of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes and decrease in hepatic glycogen content. 2 Exposure to cadmium increases hepatic cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and this is accompanied by stimulation of basal, adrenaline- as well as glucagon-stimulated form(s) of adenylate cyclase. 3 In contrast to cadmium, subacute administration of zinc (ZnCl2, 2 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days) fails to alter the activities of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes, cyclic AMP synthesis, as well as glucose clearance and insulin release in response to a glucose load. 4 Zinc, when administered at the same time as cadmium, prevents the cadmium-induced lesions in both hepatic and pancreatic functions. 5 The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms of cadmium toxicity and to the role of sulphydryl groups in the protection exercised by zinc.
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D002104:Cadmium; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D005947:Glucose; D015032:Zinc