Cadmium chronic intoxication: modulation of oxidative stress in the rat heart by the diet.

FERRAMOLA, M.; ANZULOVICH AC; GIMÉNEZ MS

San Miguel deTucuman, Argentina

Congreso; XLV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2009

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Cd2+ on oxidative stress parameters in heart, and the putative protection of a soy-based diet. Two months old male Wistar rats were separated into six groups: 1, 3 and 5 were fed with a casein-based diet; 2, 4 and 6 were fed with a soy-based diet. Controls (1 and 2) received tap water; groups 3 and 4 received tap water with Cd2+ 15ppm; groups 5 and 6, tap water with Cd2+ 100ppm. Food and water were available ad libitum, during 4 months. TBARS levels and paraoxonase-1 (PON- 1) activity in serum, and antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, CAT and GPx) in heart were determined spectrophotometrically. TBARS levels and PON-1 activity increased in group3, compared to 1, however TBARS decreased in group 6, compared to 2 (p<0.05). CAT activity increased in group 3 in comparison to 1, and it decreased in groups 4 and 6, compared to 2 (p<0.05). No differences were found in GPx or SOD activities. In this study, we observed that Cd2+ intoxication increases oxidative stress in serum and heart, modifying at the same time antioxidant enzymes activities. There seems to be an induction of CAT activity in the heart and PON-1 activity in serum with the lower concentration of the metal. This, probably, could be due to a defense mechanism. No increases of lipid peroxidation in serum were observed in the rats fed with the soy-based diet.