Modulation of cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity by iron supplementation in rats

Abstract

Cadmium is known to cause nephrotoxicity in rats. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of iron on cadmium toxicity when rats were exposed to water and food-chain-mediated feed. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups containing three rats for the two-phase studies. After four weeks of exposure, the rat’s kidney was excised and evaluated for a kidney function test involving alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. In rats exposed via water, Cd-exposed rats show a significantly increased ALT level (266.250 ± 0.005U/I) compared to the control group (238.321 ± 0.0001U/I) while Fe-exposed rats exhibit a significant decrease in ALT levels (182.972 ± 0.029U/I) compared to the control group. Cd+Fe-exposed rats show a further significant decrease in ALT levels compared to both the control and other experimental groups. Also, Cd-exposed rats show a significant decrease in AST levels (200.176 ± 0.018U/I) compared to the control group (287.108 ± 0.003 U/I) while Fe-exposed rats do not show a significant difference in AST levels (277.553 ± 0.448U/I) compared to the control. In rats exposed via feeding, Cd-exposed rats show decreased ALT levels (159.868 ± 0.132U/I) compared to the control group (179. 076 ± 0.001U/I) while Cd+Fe-exposed rats have ALT levels (178.001 ± 0.001U/I) almost identical to the control group, indicating that the combined exposure to Cd and Fe might neutralize the individual effects on ALT levels. The results revealed that iron offers protection against cadmium-induced toxicity in the kidney. This finding suggests that cadmium toxicity in the kidney could be ameliorated in the presence of iron, potentially opening new and promising avenues for the prevention and treatment of cadmium toxicity in humans. This is a finding of direct relevance to the fields of biochemistry and environmental science, and it brings hope for the future of cadmium toxicity research.