Cadmium-induced changes in lipid peroxidation, blood hematology, biochemical parameters and semen quality of male rats: protective role of vitamin E and beta-carotene.
Cadmium is a well-known human carcinogen and a potent nephrotoxin. Lipid peroxidation is involved in cadmium-related toxicity. Vitamin E and beta-carotene are effective antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the potential protective effects of vitamin E and beta-carotene alone or in combination against cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2, 5 mg/kg BW, 1/15 LD50), vitamin E (100 mg/kg BW), beta-carotene (10 mg/kg BW), and vitamin E with beta-carotene (100 + 10 mg/kg BW, respectively) were orally administered by gavage alone or in combination. The tested doses were given to rats every other day (15 times). Results obtained showed that CdCl2 significantly (P < 0.05) induced free radicals in plasma, liver and brain. The activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) (plasma and liver), alkaline phosphatase (AlP) (plasma and liver), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (liver) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (plasma and brain) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased due to CdCl2 administration, whereas, the activities of AST and ALT were increased in plasma. Treatment with CdCl2 caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase in glucose, urea, creatinine and bilirubin in plasma. On the other hand, results showed that CdCl2 significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plasma total protein (TP), albumin (A), blood hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), while total leukocyte count (TLC) increased. Treatment with CdCl2 caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in sperm concentration, motility (%), weight of testes and epididymis, and increase in dead and abnormal sperm. Results demonstrated the beneficial influences of vitamin E, -carotene alone and/or in combination in reducing the harmful effects of CdCl2.
Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Alexandria, 163, Horreya Avenue, P.O. Box 832, Alexandria 21526, Egypt. feldemerdash@yahoo.com
Fatma M
FM
El-Demerdash
Mokhtar I
MI
Yousef
Fatma S
FS
Kedwany
Hoda H
HH
Baghdadi
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D005609:Free Radicals; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002104:Cadmium; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase