Protective Influence of Vitamin E on Antioxidant Defense System in the Blood of Rats Treated with Cadmium

B. I. OGNJANOVIĆ, S. Z. PAVLOVIĆ¹, S. D. MALETIĆ, R. V. ŽIKIĆ, A. Š. ŠTAJN, R. M. RADOJIČIĆ², Z.S. SAIČIĆ1, V.M. PETROVIĆ¹

Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, ¹Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", Department of Physiology, Belgrade, ²Institute for Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia

Received July 11, 2002
Accepted November 11, 2002

Summary
The effects of acute exposure to cadmium (Cd) on the blood antioxidant defense system, lipid peroxide concentration and hematological parameters, as well as the possible protective role of vitamin E were studied. Male Wistar albino rats (3 months old) were treated with cadmium (0.4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 h before the experiment) or with vitamin E + Cd (20 IU Vit E/kg b.m., i.m., 48 h + 0.4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 h before the experiment). The hematological parameters were assessed: red blood cell counts, hematocrit value and hemoglobin concentration were significantly decreased in the blood of Cd-treated rats. Intoxication with cadmium was also followed by significantly increased lipid peroxide concentrations. We also observed increased activity of antioxidant defense enzymes: copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase as well as concentrations of non-enzymatic components of antioxidant defense system: reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E. Pretreatment with vitamin E exhibited a protective role on the toxic effects of cadmium on the hematological values, lipid peroxide concentration as well as on enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of antioxidant defense system.

Key words
Vitamin E • Cadmium • Blood • Lipid peroxides • Antioxidant defense system

Reprint requests
Branka I. Ognjanović, Ph.D., Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, P.O. Box 60, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. E-mail: branka@knez.uis.kg.ac.yu