Histopathology and cytotoxicity as biomarkers in treated rats with cadmium and some therapeutic agents

• Published in: Saudi journal of biological sciences Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 265 - 280
• Main Authors: El-Refaiy, Amal I., Eissa, Fawzy I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Elsevier B.V 01.07.2013; Saudi Biological Society
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Biochemical markers; Cadmium; Chromosome aberrations; Histopathology; Original; Physiology; Rats; Toxicology; Zinc; الفسيولوجيا; الكادميوم; الكيمياء الحيوية; علم السموم; Cadmium; Ascorbic acid; Histopathology; Zinc; Chromosome aberrations
• ISSN: 1319-562X; 2213-7106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2013.02.004

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and zinc (Zn) against cadmium (Cd) induced histopathological changes in tissues of liver, kidney, lung and testis of rats as well as chromosomal aberrations. For this purpose, 60 male albino rats were divided into six groups; each group contained 10 animals. The first group served as control and was given only distilled water. The second and third groups received distilled water supplemented with 2g ascorbic acid/l and 500mg Zn/l, respectively. The fourth group received a daily oral dose containing 3mg Cd/kg b.w. (1/30 LD50). The fifth group received Cd+ascorbic acid (3mg Cd/kg b.w.+2g ascorbic acid/l), while the sixth group received Cd+Zn (3mg Cd/kg b.w. +500mg Zn/l). The treatment in all groups lasted for 90 consecutive days. Rats exposed to cadmium showed severe histopathological changes in the liver, kidney, lung and testicular tissues as well as chromosomal aberrations such as: break, ring, centromeric separation and polyploidy. Co-treatment with zinc partially improved the histopathological changes and chromosomal aberrations while co-treatment with vitamin C exhibited a more protective role and markedly reduced tissues damage induced by Cd.