Determination of acute and chronic effects of cadmium on the cardiovascular system of rats

Abstract

In this study, the systemic hemodynamics induced by acute and chronic cadmium (Cd⁺²) intoxication in the cardiovascular system of rats using thoracic electrical bioimpedance were examined and the acute and chronic effects of Cd⁺² intoxication on the activities of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) were compared. Also, in this study, ultrastructural changes in the heart and aorta of rats were evaluated. Thirty-eight male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into control, acute, and chronic groups. Chronic group was administered by oral gavage an aqueous solution of CdCl₂ for 60 days, at dose of 15 mg Cd⁺²/kg/day. Acute group was administered by oral gavage an aqueous solution of CdCl₂ with a single dose of 15 mg Cd⁺²/kg. Cadmium increased the stroke volume and cardiac output of rats in the chronic group, but did not change the heart rate significantly. Antioxidant enzymes activities and MDA level significantly increased in the chronic group. In ultrastructural examination, there were widespread degenerative changes in heart muscle cells of the chronic group but endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in the aorta tissue samples had normal morphological features in all groups. All of the findings indicate that Cd⁺² toxication can cause deformation in heart muscle cells due to an increase in free radicals and lipid peroxidation. Also, this study has confirmed that a long-term-Cd⁺² exposure increased stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), but did not change the heart rate (HR).

Keywords::

• Cadmium
• cardiac output
• hemodynamics
• rat
• thoracic electrical bioimpedance

Acknowledgement

The work was supported by grants (BAP–SBE TTB (MİÖ) 2005-3) from Department of Scientific Researches, University of Mersin.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.