Alterations in antioxidant function and cell apoptosis in duck spleen exposed to molybdenum and/or cadmium.
To investigate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and/or cadmium (Cd) on antioxidant function and the apoptosis-related genes in duck spleens. Sixty healthy 11-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups of 10 ducks (control, low Mo group, high Mo, Cd, low Mo + Cd, and high Mo + Cd groups). All were fed a basal diet containing low or high dietary doses of Mo and/or Cd. Relative spleen weight, antioxidant indices, apoptosis-related gene mRNA expression levels, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated after 120 days. The results showed that the relative spleen weight decreased significantly in the high Mo + Cd treatment group which compared with control group. Malondialdehyde levels increased and xanthine oxidase and catalase activities decreased in the Mo and/or Cd groups compared with levels in the control group. Bak-1 and Caspase-3 expressions were upregulated in the high Mo + Cd group, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. In addition, mitochondrial crest fracture, swelling, vacuolation, deformed nuclei, and karyopyknosis in both Mo + Cd treated groups were more severe than in the other groups. The results suggest that Mo and/or Cd can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of spleen via effects on the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Moreover, the results indicate the two elements have a possible synergistic relationship.
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Mengmeng
M
Zhang
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Junrong
J
Luo
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Caiying
C
Zhang
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Huabin
H
Cao
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Bing
B
Xia
Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Guoliang
G
Hu
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004372:Ducks / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D002104:Cadmium; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008982:Molybdenum; D002374:Catalase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase
apoptosis; cadmium; duck; molybdenum; oxidative stress