Chronic hepatic and renal toxicity by cadmium in rats

Recently there has been an increased interest in the toxic effects from long term exposure of low levels of cadmium (Cd) in diet. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0, 25, 50, 75 ppm Cd mixed in diet continuously for 180 days. A significant decrease in body weight gain was observed in all Cd treated animals. Serum glucose, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were increased parallel to Cd concentration and treatment time. Measured hepatic and renal gluconeogenic enzymes, viz. glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were increased with higher Cd dose and time. Low concentration of Cd (25 ppm) had minimal effect with shorter treatment length. Fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase was found to be very sensitive for assessing Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. Increased serum glucose level and gluconeogenic enzyme activities suggest that Cd might interfere in protein metabolism.