title: Combined effect of dietary cadmium and benzo(a)pyrene on metallothionein induction and apoptosis in the liver and kidneys of bank voles.
abstract: Bank voles free living in a contaminated environment have been shown to be more sensitive to cadmium (Cd) toxicity than the rodents exposed to Cd under laboratory conditions. The objective of this study was to find out whether benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a common environmental co-contaminant, increases Cd toxicity through inhibition of metallothionein (MT) synthesis-a low molecular weight protein that is considered to be primary intracellular component of the protective mechanism. For 6 weeks, the female bank voles were provided with diet containing Cd [less than 0.1 μg/g (control) and 60 μg/g dry wt.] and BaP (0, 5, and 10 μg/g dry wt.) alone or in combination. At the end of exposure period, apoptosis and analyses of MT, Cd, and zinc (Zn) in the liver and kidneys were carried out. Dietary BaP 5 μg/g did not affect but BaP 10 μg/g potentiated rather than inhibited induction of hepatic and renal MT by Cd, and diminished Cd-induced apoptosis in both organs. The hepatic and renal Zn followed a pattern similar to that of MT, attaining the highest level in the Cd + BaP 10-μg/g group. These data indicate that dietary BaP attenuates rather than exacerbates Cd toxicity in bank voles, probably by potentiating MT synthesis and increasing Zn concentration in the liver and kidneys.
authors: Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Aneta
authors: A
authors: Salińska
authors: Tadeusz
authors: T
authors: Włostowski
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Maciak
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Łaszkiewicz-Tiszczenko
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Kozłowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003411:Arvicolinae; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc