Protective role of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 on antioxidant defense system in the blood of rats treated with cadmium

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the activities of copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as ascorbic acid (AsA), vitamin E (Vit E) and lipide peroxide (LP) concentrations in the blood of male two months old Wistar albino rats. The animals were divided as follows: (1) untreated controls (C); (2) animals treated with 14 mg/day/kg b.m. cadmium in drinking water during 15 days (Cd); (3) rats treated with 20 IU/kg/dose of Vit E and 15 mg/kg/dose of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), i.m., every fifth day during 15 days (Vit E+CoQ10) and (4) animals pretreated with Vit E and CoQ10 in above mentioned amounts during 15 days and then treated with 14 mg/day/kg b.m. of Cd during next 15 days (Cd+Vit E+CoQ10). Each group consisted of seven animals. All obtained results were compared in respect to the control animals. Cadmium induced a significant increase of GST activity, as well as Vit E concentration in the plasma. In Vit E+CoQ10 treated animals the activities of GSH-Px and GR in erythrocytes were significantly decreased, whereas plasma AsA and Vit E concentrations were markedly elevated. In Cd+Vit E+CoQ10 treated rats erythrocyte GSH-Px and GR activities, as well as plasma Vit E concentration were significantly increased, while plasma AsA concentration was significantly decreased. In all examined groups of animals LP concentration in the whole blood was significantly decreased. The obtained results show that Cd in the dosages administered influenced antioxidant defense system in the blood of rats and the protective role of Vit E and CoQ10 against Cd toxicity was also observed.