Protective Role of Vitamin E on Antioxidant Defense System and Lipid Peroxide Concentration in the Blood of Rats Acutely Exposed to Cadmium

Male Wistar albino rats, 3 months old, were acutely treated with cadmium (0,4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 before the sacrificing) and with vitamin E + Cd (20 IU Vit E/kg b.m., i.m., 48 + 0,4 mg Cd/kg b.m., i.p., 24 before the sacrificing). The haematological values: red blood cells (RBC) count, haematocrite (Htc) value, haemoglobin (Hb) and lipid peroxide (LP) concentrations were determined. The status of antioxidant defense system (AOS): copper zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AsA) and vitamin E (Vit E) concentrations were also determined in the blood of rats. RBC count, Htc value and Hb concentration were significantly decreased in the blood of rats acute treated by Cd. Vit E prevents anaemia caused by Cd. Acute administration of Cd significantly increased LP concentration, while Vit E reversed this changes. All examined components of AOS in the blood were significantly increased in Cd-treated rats. Pretreatment of rats with Vit E abolished the toxic effects of Cd on AOS.