Alpha-tocopherol supplementation on chromium toxicity: a study on rat liver and kidney cell membrane

Membrane damage is one of the important consequence of chromium, an environmental toxicant, to produce cytotoxicity, alpha-tocopherol, a membrane protectant can be used to reduce the chromium-induced membrane damage. In the present study, the impact of chromium in presence and absence of alpha-tocopherol was studied on plasma membrane of liver and kidney in male Wistar rats (80-100 g body weight). Significant increase in membrane cholesterol level as well as significant decrease in membrane phospholipid level in chromium exposed (0.8 mg/100 g body weight/d, i.p., for 4 weeks) animals suggest structural alteration of both liver and kidney plasma membrane. The alkaline phosphatase, total ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activities of plasma membrane were significantly decreased in both liver and kidney after chromium treatment. However, alpha-tocopherol (30 mg/100 g diet) supplementation can restrict the changes in these membrane-bound enzyme activities. Thus, the usefulness of dietary supplementation of alpha-tocopherol to restrain the chromium-induced membrane damage is suggested.