title: Lipid, lipoproteins, total antioxidant status and organ changes in rats administered high doses of cadmium chloride.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the possible association between cadmium (Cd) exposure and alterations in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty male albino rats assigned to 2 groups of 10 rats each (test and control) were used for the study. Each test animal model was given 1.0 mg CdCl(2)/kg body weight, administered intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Blood samples obtained from both groups at the beginning (baseline) and after 4 weeks of Cd exposure were analysed for triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), TAS and Cd. Kidney and liver sections from the rats were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma TG, TC and LDLC levels were significantly higher in exposed rats than controls (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Plasma HDLC was reduced in the exposed rats compared to controls (0.41 ± 0.22 and 0.68 ± 0.14 mmol/l, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed dyslipidaemia and decrease in TAS could be due to increased free radical production causing oxidative stress. Damage to liver and kidney sections in the exposed group suggests that Cd toxicity results in detrimental histological changes and may be implicated in the aetiology of cerebrovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Chemistry Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. edenjaph@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Olisekodiaka
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Igbeneghu
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Onuegbu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oduru
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Lawal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D019256:Cadmium Chloride