Lipid peroxidative damage on cadmium exposure and alterations in antioxidant system in rat erythrocytes: a study with relation to time.

Cadmium induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes after the administration of a single dose of CdCl2 (0.4 mg kg-1 body wt, i.p.) was studied in rat erythrocytes. Cd intoxication increased erythrocyte LPO along with a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) up to three days of Cd treatment. The decrease in erythrocyte catalase (CAT) activity was marked within 9 h of Cd intoxication. After three days of Cd treatment, LPO decreased towards normal, along with an increase in erythrocyte SOC and CAT activity. Blood glutathione (GSH) decreased significantly within 24 h of Cd treatment, followed by an increase towards normal. Erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased up to 10 days of Cd intoxication, probably in an attempt to reduce Cd toxicity. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP) and serum bilirubin increased up to 10 days of Cd intoxication. Blood urea increased significantly up to three days, followed by a decrease towards normal. The results show that Cd induced LPO was associated with a decrease in antioxidant enzymes and GSH in erythrocytes; as these antioxidants increase in erythrocytes with recovery from Cd intoxication, the Cd induced LPO reversed towards normal. The increase in the SGPT, SALP and serum bilirubin correlated with LPO. The results suggest that Cd intoxication induces oxidative stress and alters the antioxidant system, resulting in oxidative damage to rat erythrocytes.