Investigation into the combined effects of ethanol and cadmium on rat liver and kidneys

• Published in: Archives of toxicology Vol. 64; no. 6; p. 470
• Main Authors: Hopf, G, Böcker, R, Bischoff, J, Werner, M G, Estler, C J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.1990
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Animals; Body Weight - drug effects; Brain Chemistry - drug effects; Cadmium - blood; Cadmium - toxicity; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - physiopathology; Copper - analysis; Copper - blood; Copper - metabolism; Creatinine - urine; Ethanol - blood; Ethanol - toxicity; Female; Kidney Diseases - chemically induced; Kidney Diseases - physiopathology; L-Iditol 2-Dehydrogenase - blood; Metallothionein - metabolism; Organ Size - drug effects; Polyribosomes - drug effects; Protein Biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Zinc - analysis; Zinc - blood; Zinc - metabolism
• ISSN: 0340-5761; 1432-0738
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01977629

To examine the combined hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of cadmium and ethanol, rats maintained on an ethanol containing liquid diet (5% w/w) were given cadmium either acutely (3 x 1 mg/kg IP) or subacutely (about 14 mg/kg/day PO for 6 weeks). Parameters tested were cadmium, zinc and copper contents of blood and various organs, metallothionein (MT) contents, polysome profile of liver and kidneys, serum SDH and GPT levels and creatinine clearance. Ethanol reduced the hepatic MT contents without altering the polysome profile and the zinc and copper contents. Cadmium on the other hand raised the MT contents in liver and kidneys. This effect of cadmium predominated in the combined treatment. Morphological examination and functional tests (SDH, GPT, creatinine clearance) indicate that cadmium does not enhance the toxic effects of ethanol, and vice versa.