Toxic Effect of Acute Cadmium and Lead Exposure in Rat Blood, Liver, and Kidney

Abstract

Background: Cadmium and lead are widespread and non-biodegradable pollutants of great concern to human health. In real life scenarios, we are exposed to mixtures of chemicals rather than single chemicals, and it is therefore of paramount importance to assess their toxicity. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of Cd and Pb alone and as a mixture in an animal model of acute exposure. Methods: Experimental groups received a single treatment of aqueous solution of Cd-chloride (15 and 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) and Pb-acetate (150 mg/kg b.w.), while the mixture group received 15 mg Cd/kg b.w. and 150 mg Pb/kg b.w. Toxic effects of individual metals and their mixture were investigated on hematological and biochemical parameters, and the redox status in the plasma, liver, and kidneys of treated Wistar rats. Results: Tissue-specific changes were recorded in various parameters of oxidative damage, while the accumulation of metals in tissues accompanied the disturbances of both hematological and biochemical parameters. It was observed that the level of toxic metals in tissues had a different distribution pattern after mixture and single exposure. Conclusions: Comprehensive observations suggest that exposure to Cd and Pb mixtures produces more pronounced effects compared to the response observed after exposure to single metal solutions. However, further research is needed to confirm toxicokinetic or toxicodynamic interactions between these two toxic metals in the organisms.

The effect of diosmin against liver damage caused by cadmium in rats

“…Another finding parallel to this damage is a decrease in the body weight of animals and a significant increase in liver weight and liver weight/body weight ratio. Comparing current studies with previous studies on cadmium exposure; oxidative stress parameters (Abarikwu, Njoku, Lawrence, Charles, & Ikewuchi, ; Dkhil et al, ; Eşrefoglu et al, ; Jurczuk et al, ; Karaca and Eraslan, ; Koyu et al, ; Layachi and Kechrid, ; Xu et al, ; Zhang et al, ), some biochemical parameters (Abarikwu et al, ; Layachi & Kechrid, ; Pari & Murugavel, ; Pari & Shagirtha, ; Zhang et al, ), liver histopathology (Andjelkovic et al, ; Koyu et al, ; Olisekodiaka, Igbeneghu, Onuegbu, Oduru, & Lawal, ; Xu et al, ) and, in terms of body weight and liver weight (Layachi & Kechrid, ) have similarities.…”

“…There are many studies shown that negative effects of cadmium on the liver (Andjelkovic et al, 2019;Jurczuk, Brzóska, Moniuszko-Jakoniuk, Gałazyn-Sidorczuk, & Kulikowska-Karpińska, 2004;Karaca & Eraslan, 2013;Koyu, Gokcimen, Ozguner, Bayram, & Kocak, 2006;Xu, Wang, Sun, & Wu, 2017;Zhu et al, 2019). In the treatment of these heavy metal-related intoxications, the use of a chelator for the chelation of the metals passing into the systemic circulation is often preferred (Flora, Mittal, & Mehta, 2008;Tandon et al, 2003;Xu et al, 1996).…”

Subchronic Exposure to Cadmium Causes Persistent Changes in the Reproductive System in Female Wistar Rats

“…Some studies indicate that chronic exposure to Cd probably induces ROS by overwhelming the antioxidant defence leading to increased lipid peroxidation [64,65]. On the other hand, short-term exposure to Cd contributes to a significant depletion of glutathione and protein-bound sulfhydryl groups, which results in enhanced production of ROS [66,67].…”

Cadmium Induces Acute Liver Injury by Inhibiting Nrf2 and the Role of NF-κB, NLRP3, and MAPKs Signaling Pathway

“…Therefore, the liver is more vulnerable to pathogenic factors and, consequently, damage. It was reported that the liver is one of the main target tissues in acute or high dose exposure of Cd [7][8][9]. Cd exposure can also lead to a variety of cancers, especially liver cancer [10].…”