Cadmium and Its Neurotoxic Effects

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has received considerable concern environmentally and occupationally. Cd has a long biological half-life mainly due to its low rate of excretion from the body. Thus, prolonged exposure to Cd will cause toxic effect due to its accumulation over time in a variety of tissues, including kidneys, liver, central nervous system (CNS), and peripheral neuronal systems. Cd can be uptaken from the nasal mucosa or olfactory pathways into the peripheral and central neurons; for the latter, Cd can increase the blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability. However, mechanisms underlying Cd neurotoxicity remain not completely understood. Effect of Cd neurotransmitter, oxidative damage, interaction with other metals such as cobalt and zinc, estrogen-like, effect and epigenetic modification may all be the underlying mechanisms. Here, we review the in vitro and in vivo evidence of neurotoxic effects of Cd. The available finding indicates the neurotoxic effects of Cd that was associated with both biochemical changes of the cell and functional changes of central nervous system, suggesting that neurotoxic effects may play a role in the systemic toxic effects of the exposure to Cd, particularly the long-term exposure.

Effect of Cadmium on Human Middle Ear Epithelial Cells

“…Cadmium affects the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Cadmium damages DNA, membranes, and proteins, and inhibits DNA repair in different ways [4,[12][13][14] . In this study, we demonstrated that Cd 2+ also decreases the cell viability of middle ear epithelial cells.…”

“…Cadmium (Cd 2+ ) is a heavy metal that is considered to be one of the most common environmental and occupational hazards [4] . Groups at high risk of cadmium exposure include people who live in contaminated areas, people who have a higher intake of cadmium through diet, or those who smoke cigarette as well as women [5] .…”

Alzheimer's Disease with Markedly Elevated Arsenic and Other Metals Masquerading as Organic Brain Syndrome and Affective Disorder

“…However, it may alter accumulation of amyloid. For example, Cadmium increases amyloid precursor protein synthesis [18] and alters amyloid beta peptide membrane channel resulting in large aggregates of precipitationprone amyloid in cells [24,25].…”

Effect of low potassium concentration on cadmium induced epileptiform activity of leech retzius neurons

“…Od blokatora Ca 2+ kanala prisutnih u životnoj sredini Cd 2+ zaslužuje posebnu pažnju. Epidemiološke studije su pokazale da je veliki deo populacije stalno izložen toksičnom delovanju Cd 2+ u radnoj i životnoj sredini, preko vode, hrane i naročito cigareta, kao i da Cd 2+ dovodi do neuroloških poremećaja [23]. U kontekstu naših istraživanja posebno je interesantno da ponavljana primena Cd 2+ kod pacova dovodi do promena u spontanoj aktivnosti korteksa sa povećanjem frekvencije talasa na elektrokortikogramu [24] kao i do pojave epileptiformne aktvnosti na EEG-u [25].…”