Studies on Hepato and Renal Toxicity of Cadmium on Normal and Protein Malnourished Rats

Abstract

Cadmium is an established toxic metal with its ability to accumulate in blood, liver and kidney. It adversely affects the renal cortex and ultimately leads to the renal failure. It has been reported that deficiency of certain dietary components affects cadmium toxicity. Present study was designed to evaluate the cadmium toxicity (50 ppm in drinking water) in protein malnourished group (8%) and on normal protein (21%) diet groups. It was found that Cd exposure led to marked elevation in alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glutamic pyruvic transferase, glutamic oxaloacetic acid transferase with significant increase in protein malnourished group (p 0.005). Same trend of result was noted in urinary concentration of alpha amino acid, albumin, total protein and glucose. Results were more significant (p 0.001) in malnourished animals. However, hepatic and renal enzymes showed depletion in all groups. There was marked increase in serum enzymes GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase in low protein diet + Cd (p 0.001). Hence present findings strongly support that protein under-nutrition predisposes the organism to the deleterious effects of cadmium toxicity.