Hepatoprotective effect of atorvastatin on Cadmium chloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Cadmium chloride has various industrial applications and considered an industrial and environmental pollutant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on Cadmium chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in male rats. Fifty-six adult male rats, randomly were divided into 8 groups. Groups 1–3 were received atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) intragastrically for 15 days during which Cadmium chloride (1, 2, and 3 mg/kg) were given intraperitoneally from days 8 to 15. Groups 4–6 were as first three groups but animals were received vehicle of atorvastatin. Group 7 was received vehicle of atorvastatin and vehicle of Cadmium chloride and Group 8 was received atorvastatin and vehicle of Cadmium chloride according to timeline of other groups. On day 16, under full anesthesia, blood sampling was prepared from heart, and livers were dissected out to analyses the biochemical and histopathology studies. Cadmium chloride significantly increased aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum. Malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly increased and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) significantly decreased the in the liver following Cadmium chloride administration. Atorvastatin significantly improved the levels of MDA, SOD, GPx, GSH, but not ALT, AST, and ALP in Cadmium chloride-treated rats. In histopathological studies, atorvastatin could not improve injured liver tissues induced by Cadmium chloride. Atorvastatin has beneficial effects in improving Cadmium chloride-induced antioxidative enzymes disturbance which may be contribute to improving liver function in male rats. •Cadmium chloride has an oxidative effect on the liver tissue following 1 week of administration.•Atorvastatin significantly improved oxidative effects of cadmium chloride on the liver tissue.•Cadmium chloride significantly increased hepatic enzymes in the blood and atorvastatin pretreatment could not reverse them.•Cadmium induced hepatic activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase as well as reduced glutathione content were increased by Atorvastatin, whereas MDA level was obviously suppressed.•Histopathological change showed that AT could not improve injured liver tissues induced by Cadmium chloride.