Quantitative Distribution Profile of Cadmium and Lead in Different Organs of Rats and Mitigation of their...

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are toxic heavy metals that can have severe adverse effect on human health and environment. Pb contamination remains a significant concern due to its persistence in the environment, while Cd primarily enters the environment through mining, contaminating water and soil. These metals have a propensity to accumulate within various organs by displacing the essential divalent cation Ca2+, which plays a crucial role in mammalian physiology. However, the pattern of accumulation is not uniform across different organs and can vary due to distinct processing mechanisms and affinities exhibited by heavy metals toward various organ systems. This present study aims to comprehensively assess the quantitative distribution of cadmium and lead within the organs of Wistar rats, who were administered 50 mg and 100 mg per kilogram of body weight, respectively, of Cd and Pb. Furthermore, the study employs a therapeutic and interventional approach to mitigate heavy metal toxicity by introducing two probiotic strains: Lactobacillus fermentum NCDC-400 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCDC-610. The group of Wistar rats receiving the probiotic treatment demonstrated a noteworthy reduction in the accumulation of Cd and Pb, accompanied by a significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities and histological features of liver and kidney.