Influence of cadmium, nickel and zinc ions on lipid peroxidation in brain and red blood cells of mice

Abstract

Heavy metals – cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) are acknowledged as human carcinogens. They can enter into the brain parenchyma and neurons causing neurological alterations in humans and animal models, leading to lower attention, hyper nociception, olfactory dysfunction and memory deficits. Meanwhile, zinc (Zn) may be substituted by toxic metals in some of its important enzymatic and organ functions. However, there is little information about intracellular mechanisms implicated in Zn-dependent protection of an organism against deleterious effects of Cd or Ni. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Cd, Ni and Zn ions on lipid peroxidation in brain and in red blood cells of mice and a possible Zn antioxidant effect against Cd and Ni toxicity. Experiments were done on outbreed white laboratory mice using intraperitoneal injections of CdCl2 (14 μmol Cd/kg body weight), NiCl2 (19 μmol Ni/kg body weight) and/or ZnSO4 (24 μmol Zn/kg body weight) solutions. The exposure-time was 14 days. Lipid peroxides were estimated by measuring thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances and were expressed as malondialdehyde (MDA). In our experiments we determined that after 14 days of CdCl2 or ZnSO4 injections, the content of MDA in mice brain was significantly increased by 16% and 73%, respectively, as compared to control mice group. Meanwhile, in Ni treated mice group MDA content was decreased by 19%. Also, our results indicated that in Zn+Cd treated mice group the content of MDA in mice brain was decreased by 27%, but in Zn+Ni treated group this parameter increased by 38% as compared to control. Further experiments carried out in order to examine influence of Cd, Ni and Zn ions on the content of MDA in mice red blood cells. The results indicated that in all groups MDA content was at the control level. Moreover, we did not find the proof that Zn has [...].