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Environmentally Realistic Doses of Cadmium as a Possible Etiologic Agent for Idiopathic Pathologies

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Abstract

Cadmium is a heavy metal of increasing environmental concern that has long been associated to several human pathological processes. Recent population surveys have correlated cadmium non-occupational exposure to widespread idiopathic pathologies. Food and tobacco are reported to be the main exposure sources of cadmium to the general population, as phosphate fertilizers are rich in such a metal, thus contaminating the crops. Although its mechanisms of toxicity are not a consensus in the literature, it is well established that reactive oxygen species play a key role in this process, leading to the oxidation of several biological molecules. We have therefore assessed whether three environmentally realistic doses of cadmium alter the oxidative status of Wistar rat testis and eventually result in histological damages. Our results show that even the lowest environmental dose of cadmium was able to disturb the endogenous antioxidant system in Wistar testis, although an increase in lipid peroxidation was observed only within the group exposed to the highest environmental dose. Despite that no remarkable morphological changes were observed in any group, significant alterations in blood vessel lumen were reported for some cadmium-exposed animals, suggesting that endothelium is one of the primary targets involved in cadmium toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Luis Henrique Gonzaga Ribeiro for excelent technical assistance. This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico e Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. R.P.L. is a student supported by Capes fellowship and E.F.P. by FAPESP fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Rodrigo Leite & Mary A. D. Dolder

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Eduardo F. Peloso & Fernanda R. Gadelha

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  1. Rodrigo Leite
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  2. Eduardo F. Peloso
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Correspondence to Fernanda R. Gadelha.

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Leite, R., Peloso, E.F., Gadelha, F.R. et al. Environmentally Realistic Doses of Cadmium as a Possible Etiologic Agent for Idiopathic Pathologies. Biol Trace Elem Res 168, 133–140 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0322-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0322-7

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