Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of low level cadmium (Cd) exposure on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rat.Methods: Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into four groups of eight animals each. Group one received distilled water and served as control. The other three groups were exposed to 100, 200 and 300 ppm cadmium doses, respectively, in their drinking water for 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, blood, brain and liver were removed from the animals and SOD activities were investigated spectrophotometrically at 480 nm.Results: The data revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in organ weight of the exposed rats, and with the highest cadmium accumulation in liver ranging from 2.99 ± 0.20 μg Cd/g tissue in control to 34.57 ± 2.06 μg Cd/g tissue for the 300 ppm dose group. Exposure to cadmium resulted in significant (p < 0.05) decrease in SOD activity in plasma, erythrocytes, brain and liver in a dose-dependent manner compared to control. The data showed a negative correlation between tissue cadmium and SOD in plasma, erythrocyte and brain. While positive associations were observed between blood and tissue (brain and liver) cadmium and SOD, a significant (p < 0.01), negative correlation was found between tissue cadmium and SOD.Conclusion: As Cd dose increase, plasma, erythrocyte, brain and liver SOD activities decrease. This might affect the maintenance of the normal body physiological conditions.Keywords: Cadmium, Superoxide dismutase, Liver, Brain, Toxicity, Environmental contaminant
Highlights
Cadmium (Cd) is a serious environmental and occupational contaminant that may represent a serious health hazard to humans and other animals
Since the implication of cadmium toxicity on disruption of the oxidative antioxidant defense system depends on route of administration, dose and duration of exposure, we propose to investigate the effect of low level of cadmium exposure through drinking water for six weeks on superoxide dismutase activity in adult male rat
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was expressed in unit/ml for plasma and erythrocyte while that of the brain and liver homogenates were expressed in unit/g tissue
Summary
Cadmium (Cd) is a serious environmental and occupational contaminant that may represent a serious health hazard to humans and other animals. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by development of oxidative stress in the target organs is one of the several mechanisms through which cadmium exerts its toxicity [4]. Since the implication of cadmium toxicity on disruption of the oxidative antioxidant defense system depends on route of administration, dose and duration of exposure, we propose to investigate the effect of low level of cadmium exposure through drinking water for six weeks on superoxide dismutase activity in adult male rat.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
