Cadmium is one of the most widely distributed environmental toxicants. The present investigation was established to assess the protective effect of water supplemented with ascorbic acid from cadmium-induced physiological disturbances. Male albino rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups. The first served as the control group. The second freely supplemented with ascorbic acid (1 mg/100g body weight). The third received a sub-lethal dose of cadmium chloride in the diet as 150 mg/kg diet daily, the fourth received cadmium chloride 150 mg/kg diet daily and freely supplemented with ascorbic acid (1 mg/100g body weight). Blood samples were taken after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Significant cadmium-induced elevations in plasma ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activities were observed with chronic administration. However, plasma SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GSH-PX (glutathione peroxidase) activities were decreased. Plasma, liver and kidney cadmium, total bilirubin, triglycerides, total proteins, uric acid, creatinine and urea concentrations were increased significantly after cadmium ingestion. Cadmium intoxication causes significant elevations in total WBCs count, however total RBCs count and Hct (hematocrit) value was decreased. Under cadmium food toxicity, randomly scattered hepatocytes showed acidophilic and apoptotic changes. These changes showed midzonal distribution, in addition to marked periportal microvesicular steatosis. Treatment of cadmium-exposed rats with ascorbic acid showed marked improvement in various physiological, biochemical and histopathological findings. These results strongly indicate the protective effect of ascorbic acid against cadmium food toxicity.
Key words: Cadmium, Ascorbic acid, Rats, Oxidative stress
|
