Effect of olive oil on the haematological and metabolic values in blood and plasma of rats after acute cadmium intoxication

Abstract

Adult male Wistar albino 3 months old rats were treated by acute administration of (1) cadmium (0.4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24" before the sacrificing), (2) olive oil (0.4 ml olive oil/kg b.m., i.m., 48h before the sacrificing) and (3) olive oil + Cd (in above mentioned amounts). Haematological values (haematocrit - Htc, haemoglobin concentration - Hb and red blood cells count - RBC) and metabolic parameters (activity of transaminases - ALT and AST, as well as the concentration of glucose) were determined in control and experimental groups of animals. Our results show significant alterations of haematological values. Haematocrit values and haemoglobin concentrations were decreased (p<O.OI) as well as the number of red blood cells (p<0.005) after acute, intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of cadmium. Experiments with rats receiving olive oil in pretreatment show that olive oil prevents or mitigates anemia caused by cadmium. The activities of enzymes ALT and AST in plasma were significantly increased only in animals treated with cadmium (p<0.005), where as in other experimental groups the were no differences in comparison to control values. Concentration of blood glucose was significantly increased in rats treated with cadmium (p<0.005) in comparison to control values. However, the pretreatment of rats with olive oil, the negative effects of cadmium were significantly diminished.