title: Induction of lipid peroxidation in hamster organs by the carcinogen cadmium: melioration by melatonin.
abstract: Cadmium is a well-known human carcinogen. Lipid peroxidation is involved in cadmium-related toxicity and carcinogenesis. Melatonin is an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. The potential protective effects of melatonin against cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation in hamster brain, heart, kidney, testes, lung, and liver were examined. Lipid peroxidation was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride [single dose of 1 mg/kg body weight (bw)]. To test whether melatonin would protect against the toxicity of the carcinogen, the melatonin was injected peritoneally at a dose of either 15 mg/kg bw or 5 mg/kg bw, 0.5 h before cadmium treatment and thereafter at 8 h intervals during the day in the 48 h interval following the cadmium injection. One group of hamsters received only a single melatonin injection (a dose of 15 mg/kg bw, 30 min prior to cadmium). Forty-eight hours after cadmium injection, lipid peroxidation increased in brain, heart, kidney, testes, and lung. Either multiple injections of melatonin at both the 5 and 15 mg/kg bw doses, or a single injection of 15 mg/kg bw, prevented the cadmium-related increases in lipid peroxidation in brain, heart and lung. Cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation in kidney was prevented by melatonin when it was given as a single dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Melatonin slightly, but not significantly, reduced cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation in testes. It is concluded that cadmium toxicity, at least with regard to the resulting lipid peroxidation, is reduced by administering melatonin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karbownik
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gitto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewinski
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002273:Carcinogens; D005609:Free Radicals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D008550:Melatonin