Abstract

Long-Term Effect of Cadmium and Selenium on Lipid Peroxidation and Catalase Activity in Intact and Ovariectomized Rats

Author(s): Talib Hussen Ali

The effect of orally cadmium (Cd), administrated asCdCl2 at a dose of 7mg/ kg/body weight/rat/day to intact and ovariectomized rats (Ovx) followed by dietary selenium (Se) supplementation as SeCl2 at dose of.7mg/kg/body weight/rat/day for a period of 28 days are investigated in this study. Results of the present study demonstrate that the female body weight gain is not altered significantly in Cd- treated rats in comparison to the control. The deleterious effect of cadmium was obvious on female reproductive organs in intact rat (not operated) as the ovarian weight significantly decreased in cadmium- treated group compared to both control and seleniumcadmium mixture supplemented groups. Supplementation of the mixture has a small effect on the rate of overall growth of the treated animals. Results also show that cadmium accumulates within the liver, kidney and ovary of animals exposed to cadmium. Corresponding changes in cadmium were not observed in both control and tested groups. Lipid peroxidation level (malondialdehyde level) and the antioxidant enzymatic activity (catalase) in both Cd-treated and ovariectomized animals are evaluated. The subchronic exposure ofmature femaleswith cadmiumchloride or ovariectomy operation exhibited almost similar response indicated by a significant increase in lipid peroxidation level and a drop in catalase activity along with elevated Cd content in the liver, kidney and ovary tissues. A dietary supplementation of equal volume of a mixture selenium chloride and cadmiumchloride at a dose of 7 mg/kg /bodyweight/rat/day and post selenium (Se) supplementation as SeCl2 at dose of.7mg/kg/body weight/rat/day to ovariectomy of ratsminimizes the peroxidation level and increases the catalase activity significantly to the control level.