Partial protective effects of melatonin on cadmium-induced changes in hematological characteristics in rats.

We investigated the effects of melatonin (Mlt) on hematological characteristics to determine the percentage of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes in rats chronically exposed to cadmium (Cd). We used four groups of male rats: control (C), melatonin (Mlt), cadmium (Cd) and Cd + Mlt (CdMlt). Blood samples were obtained to assess the erythrocytes (RBC), leukocytes (WBC), platelets (PLT), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as well as alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes. We found that the number of WBC increased in the Cd group compared to the other three experimental groups. Low MCV and MCHC values caused by Cd were ameliorated by Mlt treatment in the CdMlt group. We found no significant change in the RBC, HGB, MCH, PLT and HCT values among the experimental groups. Mlt treatment also increased the percentage of ANAE positive lymphocytes. Mlt partially protects some hematological characteristics in cases of chronic Cd toxicity.

The protective effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on some antioxidant and cytokine levels in the rat hippocampus as well as synaptophysin (SYP) immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex of the cadmium (Cd) exposed rats. Thirty-two male albino Wistar rats were divided randomly into four equal groups as control (C; n = 8), Cd (n = 8), COS (n = 8), and Cd + COS (CdCOS; n = 8). The rats in the Cd and CdCOS groups received Cd chloride (CdCl2) (2 mg/kg/d) orally by gastric gavage three times a week for 4 weeks. Besides, COS (200 mg/kg/d) was administered to COS and CdCOS groups five times a week for 4 weeks. Then, they were decapitated and hippocampal/cerebral cortex tissue samples were taken for measurement of GSH levels, CAT and SOD activities, MDA values, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels as well as SYP immunoreactivity. Although tissue GSH levels were determined the lowest in the Cd group, these values were attenuated with COS treatment in the CdCOS group (p < .01). In addition, TNF-α levels were alleviated by COS treatment in the CdCOS group when compared to Cd (p < .01). SYP-positive cells were investigated in the cerebral cortex and found mild in the CdCOS group. COS exhibits potential protective effects on Cd-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Use of the fertilized hen's egg in the evaluation of embryotoxicity of dental alloys.

In this study, embryotoxic effects of five commercially available dental alloys were investigated by using fertilized hens' eggs. One sample of each alloy was conditioned in one of the conditioning media, physiological saline (PS), 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), and 0.1 M protein (3% bovine serum albumin, BSA) containing PBS (pH 6.8), respectively. The test solutions were injected into the fertilized hen's eggs via air sac at the beginning of the incubation. Various concentrations of a highly embryotoxic substance, AFB1, was also used as positive control test material. Mortality of the AFB1 treatment groups increased with increasing concentrations of AFB1 and the mortality values were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the controls and eluent injected groups. The eluents of five commercially available dental alloys tested in the study did not have significant embryotoxic effects. Cu- and Pd-containing alloys displayed relatively high but statistically insignificant embryotoxic effects. Chick embryo might be used in determination of the embryotoxic effects of the dental alloys with its several advantages. Nevertheless, the test should be further standardized and new methods such as micronucleus test showing possible genotoxic effects of the materials should be used.