Glutathione protects liver and kidney tissue from cadmium- and lead-provoked lipid peroxidation

Cd and Pb represent a serious ecological problem due to their soluble nature, their mobility and ability to accumulate in the soil. The exposure to these heavy metals can originate from different sources (drinking water, food and air), and they can enter into the human body through the respiratory and digestive systems. The effects of glutathione on Cd and Pb accumulation and lipid peroxidation effects in the liver and kidneys of heavy metal intoxicated rats were investigated. The content of the marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde, was increased several fold in the tissues of the exposed animals, the effects being more pronounced in the liver. The treatment of intoxicated animals with glutathione drastically suppressed lipid peroxidation. The obtained results imply that the application of glutathione may have a protective role in heavy metal intoxication by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. However, precaution should be exercised when Cd is considered, since it seems that glutathione promotes Cd accumulation in the liver.