Toxicology Reports (Jan 2015)

Study of the influence of the ph of water in the initiation of digestive tract injury in cadmium poisoning in rats

  • Gisele Alborghetti Nai,
  • Mozart Alves Gonçalves Filho,
  • Mariani Paulino Soriano Estrella,
  • Larissa Di Santi Teixeira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.07.012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. C
pp. 1033 – 1038

Abstract

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Cancer has genetic and environmental causes, one of which is the ingestion of heavy metals such as cadmium. Objective: To evaluate the lesions caused by cadmium poisoning in the digestive tract and the possible effect of the drinking water pH in the initiation of these lesions. Methods: 90 male Wistar rats were used, divided into six groups (n = 15): A – received 400 mg/l cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in drinking water at a neutral pH of 7.0; B – received CdCl2 (400 mg/l) in drinking water at an acidic pH of 5.0; C – received CdCl2 (400 mg/l) in drinking water at a basic pH of 8.0; D – received water at an acidic pH of 5.0; E – received water at a basic pH of 8.0; and F – received water at a neutral pH of 7.0. Animals were euthanized after 6 months. Samples of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine of each rat were removed for microscopic analysis. Results: There were no microscopic changes in either the esophagus or small and large intestines. Only cadmium-exposed animals showed mild dysplasia of the gastric mucosa (p = 0.012), regardless of the pH (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Cadmium exposure led to the formation of dysplastic lesions in the gastric glandular epithelium, regardless of the water pH.

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