Influence of Copper, Iron, Lead and Zinc Ions on Cadmium Ion Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

The influence of copper, iron, lead and zinc ions on cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity has been examined in the rat (Wistar strain). Six groups of five (05) rats each were used for the study. Group A, the control rats were not exposed to any of the metal ions. Group B rats were exposed to Cd alone (42.86 ml of 0.229 mg Cd ion /L solution/kg bw);group C to cadmium and copper (42.86 ml of same amount of Cd and 0.189 mg Cu ion/L solution/kg bw); group D to cadmium and iron (42.86 ml of same amount of Cd and 1.90 mg Fe(II) ion/L solution /kg bw), group E to cadmium and lead (42.86 ml of same amount of Cd and 1.08 mg Pb ion/L solution/kg bw) while those in group F were administered cadmium and zinc (42.86 ml of same amount of Cd and 0.505 mg Zn ion /L solution /kg bw). Relative to the control, serum chloride and potassium ion levels (Cl-= 80.32 ± 11.50 mEq /L ; K+ = 5.38 ± 1.65 mEq / L ) were significantly ( p≤0.05 ) reduced in the cadmium only group (Cl- = 52.13 ± 2.13 mEq /L ; K+ = 3.82 ± 0.98 mEq/L) but when it was combined with copper and iron separately, the control serum levels of both analytes were reduced to levels that were not significantly (p> 0.05) different from the control group values. Serum creatinine level was increased significantly ( p≤ 0.05 ) in the cadmium only group (control 0.81± 0.26 mg /dL while that of Cd only was 1.26 ± 0.07 mg /dL), as well as in the groups exposed to its binary with copper, iron and lead respectively, relative to control. However creatinine was reduced to the control level (0.81 ± 0.21 mg /dL control – 1.00 ±0.07mg/dL for the Cd plus Zn group) when cadmium was combined with zinc.Compared to control Cd alone and its binaries with Fe and Pb significantly (p≤ 0.05 ) decreased kidney malondialdehyde level but was significantly increased by its binary with zinc.Evidently Cd induced hypercreatinineamia was enhanced by Cu, Fe and Pb while the hypochloremia and hypokalemia associated with its toxicity were ameliorated by Cu,Fe,Pb, and Zn.
Keywords: Nephrotoxicity, Copper, Iron, Lead, Zinc Creatinine, Chloride, Potassium, Sodium