Effect of coenzyme Q10 on ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q concentrations in testes of rats chronically exposed to cadmium

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) has been recognized as being among the most toxic environmental and industrial pollutants, one that is pres­ ent in soils, sediments, air, and water (S to e pp 1 er, 1991) . After penetrating into the organism, mostly through the respir­ atory and gastrointestinal tracts, Cd accumulates in the liver and kidneys, as well as in other tissues and organs, causing many metabolic, histological, and pathological changes, such as neph­ rotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, increased lipid peroxidation and hem­ orrhagic lesions of seminal tubules. In tissues, Cd also binds to proteins of low molecular mass, producing metallothioneins by the induction of metallothionein mRNA synthesis (G e o r g e et al., 1996). Cadmium depletes glutathione and protein-bound sulfhydryl groups, resulting in enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS result in increased lipid per­ oxidation, enhanced excretion of urinary lipid metabolites, modulation of intracellular oxidized states, DNA damage, membrane damage, altered gene expression, and apoptosis (Kim et al., 2003).