The effects of cadmium chloride on the oesophagus of rats / Efecto del cloruro de cadmio sobre el esófago de ratas

Cadmium Chloride (CdC1) is a teratogen which is commonly used in industry. Although it is well known to cause toxicity in testes, kidney, heart and liver, few studies have been carried out in the digestive system. In the present study the effects of CdC1 on the esophagus of rats were investigated Wistar albino rats weighing 180 ­ 200 g were used. The animals were divided into two groups; one group was administered 2 mg/kg/day CdC1 intraperitoneally for one week. Esophagus was removed and placed in 10 percent formaline. Sections were stained with Hematoxylene-Eosine and observed under light microscopy. Hyperplasia in the epithelium, an increase in fibrotic cells under epithelium, hemorrhage in vessels, free floating erythrocytes were all observed following fetal exposure. In conclusion and most importantly, cadmium chloride was found to cause an increase in connective tissue in esophagus mucosa.

El cloruro de cadmio (CdCl2) es una sustancia teratogénica utilizada en la industria. Aunque es conocido por causar toxicidad en testículos, riñones, corazón e hígado, pocos estudios se han realizado en el sistema digestivo. Se estudió el efecto del CdCl2 en el esófago de ratas. Fueron utilizadas 24 ratas Wistar albinas de180-200 g. Los animales fueron divididos en dos grupos: a un grupo se le administró 2 mg/kg/día de CdCl2 vía intraperitoneal durante una semana, y un grupo control. Luego, el esófago fue extraído y fijado en formalina al 10 por ciento. Las secciones fueron teñidas con H-E, examinándose al microscopio óptico. Se observó después de la exposición fetal, hiperplasia epitelial, con un aumento en las células fibróticas en el epitelio y hemorragia en los vasos sin eritrocitos flotantes. Es importante destacar que el cloruro de cadmio causó incremento en el tejido fibroso de la mucosa esofágica.

Cadmium affects viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through membrane impairment, intracellular calcium elevation and DNA breakage.

Background: Cadmium is an important heavy metal with occupational and environmental hazard. Cadmium toxicity results mainly in bone-related complication such as itai-itai disease. Mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow have the ability to differentiate to osteoblasts which ensure the well-being of the bone tissue. Thus the aim was to investigate the effect of cadmium on viability of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and Methods: The rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were grown to confluency in DMEM medium supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum and penicillin-streptomycin up to third passage. Then the cells were treated with 0, 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 of CdCl 2 at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h, and their viability was investigated using trypan blue staining. In addition, after treatment with selected dose (15 and 45 μM) and time (24 and 48 h) the cell morphology, DNA damage and calcium content of the cells were evaluated. Data was analyzed using one and two-way ANOVA (Tukey test) and the P<0.05 was taken as the level of significant. Results: Cadmium chloride caused significant dose and time-dependent reduction of viability. In addition, morphological changes such as nuclear breakage and chromatin condensation, as well as cytoplasm shrinkage, were observed. The Comet assay showed a significant dose-dependent increase in DNA damage and also a significant increase in the intracellular levels of Ca 2+ was observed. Conclusion: Cadmium chloride is a toxic compound which might affect the well-being of bone tissue through affecting the mesenchymal stem cells.

Role of Asgand [Withania somniferd] in cadmium chloride induced nephrotoxicity in Rats

Asgand consists of roots of Withania somnifera [Family: Solanaceae], a well-famed drug in Indian system of medicine especially Unani and Ayurveda. The similarity in the restorative properties of Asgand and ginseng roots has led to Asgand being named as [Indian ginseng] Crude powder of Asgand was studied in rats for their ability to inhibit the nephrotoxicity induced by cadmium chloride. Cadmium is a well-known toxicant with the reported effect in mammal kidney tissue [Friberg, 1959, Funakoshi et al, 1995, Srivastava et al, 1996]. Crude powder of Asgand [Withania somnifera] significantly inhibited the toxicity produced by Cadmium chloride

Renal morphometry of fetuses rats treated with cadmium

El cadmio es un metal pesado que se encuentra en la tierra, aire y alimentos. Está presente en forma coditiana todos los días de la vida y actualmente es catalogado como un tóxico, teratogénico y agente carcinogénico. El cadamio causa numerosas lesiones a los órganos humanos y animales. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo investigar los efectos tóxicos en fetos de ratas expuestas a tratamiento con cloruro de cadmio. 10 ratas pre¤adas fueron divididas en dos grupos. Cinco ratas recibieron por administración intraperitoneal 5 mg/Kg de cloruro de cadmio por peso corporal, durante 10 días de pre¤ez y otras cinco ratas recibieron bajo las mismas condiciones del otro grupo, una solución de cloruro de sodio al 0.85 por ciento . Los fetos fueron extraídos junto con las placentas y funículos umbilicales a los 20 días de pre¤ez. La administración del cloruro de cadmio causó una reducción significativa en los pesos de los fetos y placentas. La longitud del funículo umbilical fue más corta en el grupo experimental que en el grupo control. El estudio evaluó las alteraciones morfológicas causadas en los túbulos proximal, distal, contorneados y colectores renales como también en las células del glomérulo renal. La morfometría evidenció alteraciones significativas en los túbulos proximales y en las células glomerulares y, en menor grado, en los túbulos distales. El borde en cepillo de la membrana celular se observó muy sensible y se visualizaron algunas alteraciones. Los glomérulos se presentaron con edema y la cápsula del glomérulo fue también afectada.