Protective effects of ascorbic acid and zinc against cadmium-induced histopathological, histochemical and cytogenetic changes in rats/Efeitos protetores de ácido ascórbico e zinco contra alterações histopatológicas, histoquímicas e citogenéticas induzidas por cádmio em ratos

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and zinc (Zn) against cadmium (Cd) induced histopathological changes in tissues of liver, kidney, lung and testis of rats as well as chromosomal aberrations of bone marrow. For this purpose, 60 male albino rats were divided into six groups; each group contained 10 animals. The first group served as control and was given only distilled water. The second and third groups received 200 mg Vit. C/kg b.w. and 50 mg Zn/kg b.w., respectively. The fourth group received daily oral dose containing 3 mg Cd/kg b.w. (1/30 LD50). The fifth group received Cd+Vit. C (3 mg Cd/kg b.w. + 200 mg Vit. C/kg b.w.), while the sixth group received Cd+Zn (3 mg Cd/kg b.w. + 50 mg Zn/kg b.w.). The treatment in all groups was lasted for 90 consecutive days. The results indicated that rats exposed to cadmium showed severe histopathological changes in liver, kidney, lung and testicular tissues as well as significantly increased in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations such as: break, ring, centromeric separation and polyploidy. Co-treatment with zinc partially improved the histopathological changes and decreased the frequency of chromosomal aberrations while co-treatment with vitamin C exhibited more protective role and markedly reduced tissues damage induced by Cd.