preventive role of zinc on cadmium induced hepatotoxicity

The study was carried out to find the preventive role of zinc on cadmium induced hepatotoxicity and involved 72 adult albino rats which were divided equally, at random, into three groups. Rats of the control group A were given saline subcutaneously. Rats of group B were given 1mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride subcutaneously, daily for six weeks. The same dose of cadmium with an additional dose of 2 mg/kg body weight of zinc chloride was given subcutaneously, daily to 24 rats of group C for six weeks. All the rats were weighed weekly. Four rats of each group were sacrificed weekly and livers were processed for histological examination. Student's 't' test revealed a significant decrease in the mean body weight and increase in mean liver weight of rats of group B as compared to those of group C. Livers of group B showed progressive degenerative changes which ultimately resulted in fibrosis. These deleterious effects were prevented for only one week by zinc in livers of group C