Assessment of the pro-oxidant activity of uranium in kidney and testis of rats.
The pro-oxidant activity of uranium (U) was assessed in kidney and testes of male rats, tissues in which toxic effects of this metal are well established. Eight groups of Sprague-Dawley rats received uranyl acetate dihydrate (UAD) in the drinking water at 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kgday for 3 months. Rats in four groups were concurrently subjected to restraint during 2 h/day throughout the study. Histopathological examination of the kidneys revealed an angiomatose transformation in U-treated animals. In kidney, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) activity were correlated with U exposure. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly enhanced in both kidney and testis. Oral UAD administration induced a decrease of glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the male reproductive tract. The results of this study suggest that graded doses of U elicit depletion of the antioxidant defence system of the rat and induce oxidative stress in testes and kidneys. Although at the current U doses, restraint stress scarcely showed additional adverse effects, its potential influence should not be underrated.
Linares
Victoria
V
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Rovira i Virgili University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
Bellés
Montserrat
M
Albina
M Luisa
ML
Sirvent
Juan J
JJ
Sánchez
Domènec J
DJ
Domingo
José L
JL
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014501:Uranium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014501:Uranium; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase