Exposure to alcohol and/or cadmium changes status of bioelements in rat tests

Maintenance of homeostasis of essential metals is of particular importance for the normal development and functioning of living organisms, including all organic systems and tissues. Interaction of the bioelements with environmental toxic metals which enter the body by different route of administration disrupt balance of essential metals and consequently functioning of metalloenzymes and intra- and inter- cell signalization as well, in the body at all levels (cells, tissues and organs).

Smoking cigarettes is a long-established way of inhalation exposure to cadmium (Cd), thus smokers are on greater health risk. Also, alcoholics are usually smokers. By using animal model (mail Wistar rats), we attempted to mimic such circumstances. Particularly, we were focused on the status of bioelements, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) in testes.

For that purpose, we arranged four groups of adult male rats (n=6) and treated them for 21 days: control (C) group – untreated rats, A21 group - received daily 3 mL 20% ethanol/kg by gastric intubation, Cd21 group - 1 mg CdCl2/kg was administered i.p. and A21+Cd21 group – rats were exposed to both tested agents, in the same way.

Compared to C group, in Cd21 group, Cu and Fe increased for 109% and 67%, respectively and Zn decreased for 33% compared to C group; in A21 group, Fe increased for 45% and Zn decreased for 35%; and in A21+Cd21 group, Cu and Fe increased for 56% and 44%, respectively, and Zn decreased for 33%. Also, Fe in A21+Cd21 group increased for 56% compared to A21 group and decreased for 24% compared to Cd21 group. Magnesium was not affected et all.

Changed testicular status of bioelements, including Fe, Cu and Zn in rats exposed to A and Cd, implies that male alcoholic smokers might be considered to be at higher risk of impaired testicular function compared to healthy population.