title: Chronic exposure to cadmium disrupts the adrenal gland activity of the newt Triturus carnifex (Amphibia, Urodela).
abstract: We intended to verify the safety of the freshwater values established for cadmium by the European Community and the Italian Ministry of Health in drinking water (5 μg/L) and sewage waters (20 μg/L). Therefore, we chronically exposed the newt Triturus carnifex to 5 μg/L and 20 μg/L doses of cadmium, respectively, during 3 and 9 months and verified the effects on the adrenal gland. We evaluated the serum concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, aldosterone, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. During the 3-month exposure, both doses of cadmium decreased ACTH and corticosterone serum levels and increased aldosterone and epinephrine serum levels. During the 9-month exposure, the 5 μg/L dose decreased ACTH and increased aldosterone and epinephrine serum levels; the 20 μg/L dose decreased norepinephrine and epinephrine serum levels, without affecting the other hormones. It was concluded that (1) chronic exposure to the safety values established for cadmium disrupted the adrenal gland activity and (2) the effects of cadmium were related both to the length of exposure and the dose administered. Moreover, our results suggest probable risks to human health, due to the use of water contaminated by cadmium.
authors: Department of Biology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Flaminia
authors: F
authors: Gay
authors: Vincenza
authors: V
authors: Laforgia
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Caputo
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Esposito
authors: Marilena
authors: M
authors: Lepretti
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Capaldo
mesh_terms: D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000209:etiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015996:Survival Rate; D014319:Triturus / Q000502:physiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium
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