Iron Administration Partially Ameliorates Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Damage in the Liver and Kidney of Rats

The protective effect of Fe against Cd-induced toxicity in the liver and kidney of rats during concurrent administration of both metals was investigated in this study. Fifty female rats (130-150 g) were distributed into five groups of 10 rats each (n = 10): Group I (control), received normal saline solution; Group II (1.2 mg CdCl₂/kg b.w.); Group III (1.2 mg CdCl₂ + 0.25 mg FeCl₂/kg b.w.); Group IV (1.2 mg CdCl₂ + 0.75 mg FeCl₂/kg b.w.); and Group V (1.2 mg CdCl₂ + 1.5 mg FeCl₂/kg b.w.). Administration of both tested substances lasted for 47 days. Cd was injected intraperitoneally once a week, while Fe was administered to the Cd-exposed animals by oral gavage thrice weekly. The animals were killed at the end of the study, their blood was collected, and their liver and kidneys were harvested for biochemical and histological analysis. Following Cd administration, the kidney and liver showed a significant increase in Cd concentration, while Fe concentration in the kidney decreased. However, cotreatment with Fe decreased Cd concentration in the kidney and liver and increased Fe concentration in the kidney but not the liver, and the effect was more pronounced in the higher than lower doses. In the kidney, cotreatment with Fe especially at higher doses inhibited Cd-induced lipid peroxidation and plasma uric acid concentration. In the liver, lipid peroxidation which Cd did not alter was found to be elevated after cotreatment with the highest dose Fe. Inflammatory cell infiltrations of the central vein and renal tubular and glomeruli injury induced by Cd were not obviated by Fe cotreatment. It seems that both tissues respond differently to the concurrent administration of these metals and that Fe protected the kidney against oxidative injury-induced by Cd but not histopathological changes in both tissues.