Rats exposure to cd2+ in drinking water: injury produced in heart, a histological assessment.

FERRAMOLA M. L.; HONORÉ S. M.; SÁNCHEZ S. S.; ANZULOVICH A. C.; GIMÉNEZ M. S.

San Juan, Argentina

Congreso; XIII Jornada SAB; 2011

Cd has been associated with an increased incidence in stroke and heart failure. The aim of the present work was to assess histological alterations in the rat heart, after Cd exposure. We also evaluated a putative protection exerted by a soy-based diet. Male Wistar rats, 8-10 weeks old, were separated into 6 groups and treated during 2 months: groups (1), (3) and (5) were fed a casein-based diet; groups (2), (4) and (6) were fed a soy-based diet. Groups (1) and (2) received tap water; (3) and (4) received tap water+Cd2+ 15ppm; (5) and (6) received tap water+Cd2+ 100ppm. Histological studies were performed using hematoxilin-eosin and Sirius red staining. Apoptosis was assessed with TUNEL test. We found that Cd2+ exposure causes tissue alterations, with hypertrophic muscular cells and fusion of muscular cells. We also observed extracellular matrix alterations in Cd exposed animals. A soy-based diet couldn`t prevent the disturbances found in the rat hart. On the other hand, we didn´t find an increase in apoptotic cells in the heart of rats exposed to the metal. We conclude that rats’ exposure to Cd2+ in drinking water significantly alters the cardiac tissue. These alterations could be one of the causes for the association found between Cd exposure and cardiovascular diseases.  No protection was found with a soy-based diet.