The influence of cadmium on energy metabolism in the blood of rats. A possible protective role of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10

Abstract

In our experiments male 2-month-old Wistar albino rats were divided as follows: (i) untreated controls (C); (ii) animals treated with 14 mg/day/kg· b.m. cadmium in drinking water during 15 days (Cd); (iii) rats treated with 20 I/kg/dose of Vitamin E (Vit E) and 15 m/kg/dose of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) i.m., every fifth day during 15 days (Vit E + CoQIO) and (iv) animals pretreated with Vit E and CoQ10 in above mentioned amounts during 15 days, and then treated with 14 m/day/kg b.m. of Cd during next 15 days (Cd + Vit E + CoQ10). We measured the following parameters of energy metabolism: glucose (Gly), lactate (Lac) and pyruvate (Pyr) levels , Lac/Pyr ratio, ATP, ADP and AMP levels, ATP/ADP ratio, total adenine nucleotide (TAN) levels and adenylate energy charge (AEC). All obtained results were compared in respect to the control animals. Our results show that Gly level did not changed, while Lac and Pyr levels were significantly increased in Vit E + CoQ10 treated rats. At the same time Lac/Pyr ratio was significantly decreased. In Cd and Cd + Vit E + CoQ10 treated animals ATP level was significantly decreased, whereas AMP level was significantly increased. ADP level did not significantly alter in any of examined group of animals. A significant decrease of ATP/ADP ratio and TAN levels in the same experimental groups were observed. AEC did not alter in any of investigated group of rats. It can be concluded that Vit E and CoQ IO have partial protect i, ·e role on energy metabolism in the blood of rats influenced by Cd.