Effects of cadmium and parathion exposure on hematology and blood biochemistry of adult male rats

Food-added azodicarbonamide alters haematogical parameters, antioxidant status and biochemical/histomorphological indices of liver and kidney injury in rats

OBJECTIVES

Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a dough enhancer currently used as a replacement for potassium bromate in the process of bread-making in countries such as Nigeria. However, comprehensive information on the toxicological profile of ADA is not readily available. The present study investigated the toxicological effects of ADA in rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four adult rats were randomly assigned into four groups of six rats each. Animals in group A served as the control (administered standard diet), whereas animals in groups B, C and D were fed ADA in food at 1, 2 and 4%, respectively. Standard or ADA diet was fed to the animals daily for a period of 28 days. Body weight was measured weekly, whereas food and water consumption was measured daily. On day 28, animals were fasted overnight after which they were euthanised. Blood samples taken were used for assessment of fasting blood glucose, haematological parameters, serum lipids, antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation status, electrolytes and urea, plasma proteins and biochemical parameters of liver and kidney injury. The liver and kidneys were then excised and processed for general histological study.

RESULTS

The results showed that repeated administration of ADA was associated with dose-related decrease in weight gain, decrease in overall food consumption, decreased superoxide dismutase activity/glutathione level and increased lipid peroxidation. There was also biochemical and morphological evidence of liver and kidney injury.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that food-added ADA could be injurious to the body cells and organs in rats.

Amelioration of toxicopathological effects of cadmium with silymarin and milk thistle in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Cadmium is an important widely distributed heavy metal in the environment due to its several industrial uses, while milk thistle is an important herb and is a source of several antioxidant particularly silymarin which is a pharmacological active substance present in seeds of milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum). The current study investigated pathological effects of cadmium (Cd) and their amelioration with silymarin (SL) and milk thistle (MT) quails. A total of 144 quails were equally divided into 9 groups and given different combinations of cadmium chloride (150 and 300 mg/kg feed), SL (250 mg/kg), and MT (10 g/kg) feed. Parameters studied were clinical signs, mortality, organ weights, testes weight and volume, and gross and microscopic pathology. Results of this study indicated an increased mortality and reduced body weight in cadmium-treated quails. Quails were dull, depressed compared with control. Swollen hemorrhagic liver along with atrophied testes were also observed in these groups. No active spermatozoa were observed in lumen of seminiferous tubules of Cd-treated birds presenting arrest of spermatogenesis. Supplementing MT and SL ameliorated mortality, organ weights, spermatogenesis, and histopathological lesions. It may be concluded that MT and SL proved beneficial in cadmium-induced toxicities in Japanese quails.

Developmental effects of parental exposure to soil contaminated with urban metals

Soil is a highly complex material, and because of rapid population growth, intense industrial activity and petrochemical development, it has suffered from contamination with substances of various origins. These environmental contaminants may have detrimental effects on human health, particularly during development. Due to the ability to transmit contaminants to the fetus, evaluating the effects of exposure of pregnant women on the psychomotor development of their offspring is of particular interest. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of exposure of female rats to an urban soil influenced by the dispersion of air contaminants during periods of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation on offspring development. Using physiological, behavioral and hematological parameters, deleterious effects on offspring were assessed. In behavioral parameters, parental exposure during pregnancy and lactation resulted in no significant differences in the evaluated parameters when compared to the control group. In contrast, pups from the pre-pregnancy group displayed decreased locomotor and exploratory activity in addition to increased levels of anxiety. Furthermore, offspring of rats exposed to contaminated urban soil during pre-pregnancy demonstrated significant changes in weight gain and development length and a reduction in the number of platelets compared to controls. Significantly, pups born to mothers exposed to contaminated urban soil during the pregnancy displayed changes in birth weight, weight gain during the growth, development length, incisor eruption and opening of the ears in addition to a reduction in their physical performance and a change in the number of lymphocytes. These results clearly show the negative influence of parental exposure to contaminated urban soil on the general development of the rats during the periods studied. These data indicate that developing organisms are highly sensitive to external factors. Further, they demonstrate the utility of these various biomarkers for identifying and displaying toxic effects of exposure to contaminated soils.

Association between blood cadmium levels and malnutrition in peritoneal dialysis

Background

Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death and may cause protein-energy wasting in individuals with chronic kidney disease. A previous study demonstrated that blood cadmium levels (BCLs) were associated with malnutrition in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, the correlation between cadmium exposure and malnutrition remains unclear in chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) patients. This study examined the possible adverse effects of environmental cadmium exposure in CPD patients.

Methods

A total of 301 CPD patients were enrolled and divided into 3 study groups based on the following BCL tertiles: low (<0.19 μg/L), middle (0.19–0.39 μg/L), and high (>0.39 μg/L). Demographic, hematological, biochemical, and dialysis-related data were obtained for analysis. The analysis also included values of nutritional and inflammatory markers.

Results

The BCLs of CPD patients were lower than those of MHD patients. At baseline, patients in the high BCL group were older and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus but lower serum albumin, creatinine, and phosphate levels than the patients in the other 2 groups. After adjusting for potential variables, stepwise backward multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and alanine aminotransferase levels were positively associated with logarithmic transformation of BCLs (log BCLs), while serum albumin levels were negatively associated with log BCLs in CPD patients. The log BCLs were a significant determinant (beta coefficient ± standard error = -0.185 ± 0.074; P = 0.013) of nutritional status and significantly associated with the presence of malnutrition (odds ratio = 2.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–6.48; P = 0.035) in CPD patients after adjustment for related variables.

Conclusions

BCL is significantly associated with nutritional status and malnutrition in CPD patients. Therefore, it is important for CPD patients to avoid environmental exposure to cadmium such as through smoking and consumption of cadmium-rich foods.

Combined effects of fluoride and cadmium on liver and kidney function in male rats

It has been shown that cadmium and fluoride may both have adverse effects on liver and kidney functions, but most studies focus on a single agent. In this study, we observed the effects of cadmium and fluoride on liver and kidney functions using a rat model. Total of 24 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups, one control group and three exposure groups that were given cadmium (50 mg/L) and fluoride (100 mg/L) alone or in combination via drinking water. At the 12th week, urine, blood, and kidney tissues were collected. Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase (ALT), urinary β2-microglobulin, and albumin were determined. Contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and kidney homogenates were measured to evaluate oxidative stress. There was a significant increase in serum ALT and urinary β2-microglobulin of rats in exposure groups compared with control. Serum ALT and urinary β2-microglobulin of rats exposed to cadmium and fluoride in combination was significantly higher than those treated with cadmium alone and fluoride alone. SOD declined significantly and MDA increased in combination group compared with control and those treated with cadmium and fluoride alone. Cadmium and fluoride co-exposure increase the liver and kidney damage compared with that exposed to cadmium or fluoride alone.

Effects of phytic acid and exercise on some serum analytes in rats orally exposed to diets supplemented with cadmium

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant of increasing worldwide concern. It has been reported to be high in the soil where food crops are grown in some parishes of Jamaica. Surprisingly, no adverse effect of cadmium has been reported among the Jamaican population. However, phytic acid has also been shown to be high in some food crops grown in Jamaica. In this study, we evaluated the effects of phytic acid (1 %) and exercise on the metabolism of cadmium (5 mg cadmium/kg body weight) in rats. Five groups of rats were fed as follows: rats fed control diet, control diet supplemented with cadmium and subjected to exercise, control diet supplemented with phytic acid plus cadmium and subjected to exercise, control diet supplemented with cadmium plus phytic acid, and control diet supplemented with cadmium only. The animals were fed for 4 weeks and then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for some biochemical assays. Percentage weight loss (28.42 %) was greatest in the group that had cadmium supplement only. The group fed control diet supplemented with cadmium only displayed increased liver enzymes and electrolytes except for the significant decrease in bicarbonate compared to other test groups. Similarly, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid were increased in the group fed cadmium supplement only compared to other test groups. Total cholesterol trended downwards in the test groups compared to control. These observations suggest that consumption of diet high in phytic acid with relatively high physical activity may be protective against the adverse effects of cadmium.

Protective role of ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 on oxidative stress, hematological and enzymatic parameters in cadmium toxicity induced rat model

We investigated the protective role of ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 (Elores) on hematological, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymatic activities and Cd levels in the blood and tissues of cadmium exposed rats. Twenty-four male rats were divided into three groups of eight rats each. The control group received distilled water whereas group II received CdCl2 (1.5 mg/4 ml/body weight) through gastric gavage for 21 days. Group III received CdCl2 and was treated with ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 for 21 days. The hematological, biochemical, lipid peroxidation levels and enzymatic parameters were measured in plasma and tissues (brain, liver and kidney) of all groups. The Cd, Zn and Fe levels were measured in blood and tissues of all groups. Our findings showed significantly decreased cadmium (p<0.001), malonaldialdehyde (p<0.001) and myloperoxidase (MPO) levels along with significantly increased hemoglobin (p<0.01), RBC (p<0.05), hematocrit (p<0.05) levels and all antioxidant enzymatic activities (SOD, CAT, GR, GPx) in plasma and tissues of ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 treated group as compared to cadmium exposed group. Delta aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity was significantly (p<0.001) increased in the blood of ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 treated group as compared with cadmium exposed group. The levels of hepatic and renal parameters were significantly (p<0.001) decreased in ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 treated group as compared to cadmium exposed group. These findings indicate that ceftriaxone plus sulbactam with VRP1034 acts as a potent free radical scavenger and exhibits metal chelating properties that reduce free radical mediated tissue injury and prevent dysfunction of hepatic and renal organs during metal intoxication.

Toxicity of cadmium and protective effect of bee honey, vitamins C and B complex

The present work aimed to study the toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) on rabbits' blood indices, as well as the therapeutic effect of the antioxidant agents, vitamins C and B complex and bee honey on Cd intoxicated rabbits. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 3 mg/kg of body weight. The results showed a significant increase in serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine, compared to the control group. In addition, CdCl2 intoxication increased the levels of uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Concerning haematological parameters, the more obvious changes were an increase in mean corpuscular volume and a decrease in white blood cells count, platelets, lymphocytes, heamatocrit, haemoglobin and red blood cells count. Treatment of CdCl2-intoxicated animals with vitamins C and B complex and bee honey showed a decrease in the harmful effects of Cd by restoring haematological and biochemical changes. Bee honey treatment was the most effective in providing recoveries in the altered blood parameters.

Hematological and Clinical Chemistry Changes Induced by Subchronic Dosing of a Novel Phosphorothionate (RPR-V) in Wistar Male and Female Rats

A novel phosphorothionate [2-butenoic acid-3-(diethoxy phosphinothioyl)-ethyl ester; RPR-V] synthesized at Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (Hyderabad, India) was studied using subchronic doses of 0.033 (low), 0.066 (medium), and 0.099 (high) mg kg(- 1) in male and female rats daily for 90 days. Continuous treatment with RPR-V caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in body-weight gain, feed intake, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and total erythrocyte count (TEC), whereas total leukocyte count (TLC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were increased. Similarly, RPR-V caused significant elevation in serum clinical chemistry parameters calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, and chloride contents, whereas protein and glucose levels were depressed in both male and female treated rats after 45 and 90 days of treatment. These alterations were significant when compared with two-way ANOVA showing that these changes were dose- and time-dependent. The effects of low dose were generally not statistically significant, whereas medium and high doses caused significant effects. The changes in male rats were not significant when compared with female rats showing no sexual dimorphism by this compound. Recovery was observed after 28 days post-treatment (withdrawal study), indicating that the compound entered into the system was eliminated from the body, and the blood parameters were improved. Hematological and clinical chemistry parameters can be detected rapidly and hence can be used for prediction and diagnosis of pesticide toxicity. Alterations in these parameters show toxic stress in the treated animals especially on blood and blood-forming organs.

Impact of distillery soil leachate on haematology of Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus)

This study reports significant alterations in various haematological parameters such as red and white blood corpuscles counts, haemoglobin content and packed cell volume in adult Swiss albino mice orally administered with diluted distillery soil leachate (5%-20%) for 30 days. Soil leachate also affected red blood cell morphology (poikilocytosis). The haematology of exposed mice improved in the reversal groups. Present study infers contamination potential of distillery soil leachate in the groundwater.

Physiological responses to sulfide toxicity by the air-breathing catfish, Hoplosternum littorale (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)

Hemolytic anemia accompanied by changes in the immunology system is one of the sulfide intoxication harmful effects on Hoplosternum littorale. Hematological parameters are considered as effective indicators of stress caused by this hydrogen sulfide. During sulfide exposure, H. littorale neither alters the methemoglobin concentration nor forms sulfhemoglobin in the presence of high levels of dissolved sulfide in the water. Cytochrome c oxidase shows little activity in the gills and blood of H. littorale when exposed to sulfide. Alternative metabolic routes are suggested through which the accumulation of pyruvate leads to the formation of an end product other than lactate.

Cadmium and vanadate oligomers effects on methaemoglobin reductase activity from Lusitanian toadfish: in vivo and in vitro studies

Cadmium and two vanadate solutions as 'metavanadate' (containing ortho and metavanadate species) and 'decavanadate' (containing decameric species) (5 mM) were injected intraperitoneously in Halobatrachus didactylus (Lusitanian toadfish), in order to evaluate the effects of cadmium and oligomeric vanadate species on methaemoglobin reductase activity from fish red blood cells. Following short-term exposure (1 and 7 days), different changes were observed on enzyme activity. After 7 days of exposure, 'metavanadate' increased methaemoglobin reductase activity by 67% (P < 0.05), whereas, minor effects were observed on enzymatic activity upon cadmium and 'decavanadate' administration. However, in vitro studies indicate that decameric vanadate, in concentrations as low as 50 microM, besides strongly inhibiting methaemoglobin reductase activity, promotes haemoglobin oxidation to methaemoglobin. Although decameric vanadate species showed to be unstable in the different media used in this work, the rate of decameric vanadate deoligomerization is in general slow enough, making it possible to study its effects. It is concluded that the increase in H. didactylus methaemoglobin reductase activity is more pronounced upon exposition to 'metavanadate' than to cadmium and decameric species. Moreover, only decameric vanadate species promoted haemoglobin oxidation, suggesting that vanadate speciation is important to evaluate in vivo and in vitro effects on methaemoglobin reductase activity.

Cadmium distribution and toxicity in tissues of small rodents

The aim of the present paper is to discuss the accumulation and distribution of cadmium (Cd) in the various tissues of animals, the interactions of cadmium with other elements, and the damage to tissues caused by this metal. Cadmium is not physiologically or biochemically essential to an organism. It is absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract and lungs and accumulated in various tissues, mainly the kidneys and liver. The distribution of cadmium between various tissues depends on many endogenous and exogenous factors. Cadmium is bound to a low-molecular-weight protein, metallothionein (MT), and to high-molecular-weight proteins. This metal has a great affinity to thiol groups. Cadmium binds also to O- and N-containing ligands. The distribution of cadmium between organs differs markedly depending on the chemical form of administered Cd and the duration of exposure. Acute exposure results in a different distribution pattern throughout the body than does chronic exposure. Long-term exposure to high doses of cadmium may cause biochemical and functional changes in some critical organs. Cadmium can influence the absorption and distribution of essential elements and can replace them in enzymes. Metallothionein and glutathione play important roles in the transport of metals and in detoxification processes. Reported findings are mainly the results of experiments on laboratory animals. The lack of data concerning the localization of cadmium in various tissues of wild species is noticeable and there is a great need for such data.