The protective effect of folic acid and Vit B12 supplementation on albino rat lung injury due to cadmium inhalation

Background Folic acid and vitamin B12 are very important vitamins needed for normal cellular metabolic activities. Cadmium is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment and Cadmium poisoning can occur through man-made pollution through agricultural and industrial activities. Aim Study of the effect of Cadmium of lung tissue of albino rats and the possible protective effect of administration of both Folic acid and vit B12 combination. Materials and Methods Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups, a control group, Cadmium group, where rats received nebulized Cadmium chloride (CaCl2) and Cadmium + vit. group received Cadmium nebulization and both Folic acid and vit B12 supplementation. The lungs of rats of the 3 groups were collected and prepared for histopathological examination. Results Cadmium group sections showed disturbed lung architecture, shrunken alveoli and increased thickness of the alveolar wall. Vacuolation of the cytoplasm of some pneumocytes were noticed and some slides showed dilated congested blood sinusoids. Transmission electron microscopic sections revealed type II pneumocyte with hyperchromatic nucleus, perinuclear dilatation, dilated and mildly degenerated lamellar bodies. Cadmium + vit group showed that the lung tissue appears nearly normal with areas of mild thickening of the alveolar wall septa and mild edema inside alveoli. Conclusion It was concluded that both Folic acid and vit B12 supplementation proved to have a protective role against the harmful effects of Cadmium administration on the lung tissues of albino rats.