title: Caffeine reduces cadmium accumulation in the organism and enhances the levels of antioxidant protein expression in the epididymis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine (20 mg/L) intake on cadmium (15 mg/L) accumulation in the rat blood, testes, epididymis and prostate as well as cadmium-induced changes to the antioxidant defense system of the epididymis. Caffeine reduced the cadmium concentration in all tissues analyzed. Meanwhile, cadmium reduced catalase activity and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the epididymis. Caffeine increased SOD activity, catalase and glutathione tissue expression and sustains the cadmium's effect on catalase and GSP-Px activity. No differences in the expression of metallothionein and lipid peroxidation were observed among the different treatments in the epididymis. In conclusion, low doses of cadmium alter the antioxidant enzymatic profile of the epididymis, but not induced oxidative lipid damage. Caffeine intake reduces overall cadmium accumulation in the organism and enhances the levels of antioxidant protein expression in the epididymis, thus exerting a protective effect against this metal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences-University Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. lmllacorte@gmail.com
authors.forename: Livia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lacorte
authors.forename: Fabio R F
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Seiva
authors.forename: Jaqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Flavia K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Delella
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moroz
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarobo
authors.forename: Antonio F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Godinho
authors.forename: Wagner J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fávaro
authors.forename: Ana A H
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Sérgio L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Felisbino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D020011:Protective Agents; D002104:Cadmium; D002110:Caffeine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione