Radiation and cadmium induced biochemical alterations in mouse kidney

Background: In the present investigation radiation and cadmium induced biochemical changes in the kidney of Swiss albino mice have been studied. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, adult male Swiss albino mice (6-8 weeks old) were divided into four groups. Group I (sham-irradiated), Group II (treated with CdCl2 solution 20 ppm), Group III (irradiated with 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 Gy gamma rays), Group IV (both irradiated with 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 Gy gamma rays and treated with CdCl2 solution). The animals were autopsied after 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days of treatment. The kidney was taken out and different biochemical parameters, such as total proteins, glycogen, cholesterol, acid phosphatase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, DNA and RNA were estimated. Results: In irradiated animals, the values of total proteins, glycogen, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase activity and RNA increased continuously up to day-7 and decreased thereafter up to day-28. The changes were dose dependent. In CdCl2 treated animals, the values of glycogen and total proteins decreased during the early intervals and increased thereafter whereas the values of acid and alkaline phosphatase activity and RNA increased during early intervals and decreased thereafter. The values of cholesterol and DNA showed decrease in all the experimental groups (except group I) up to day-7 and increase thereafter up to day-28. After combined treatment also, the parameters followed the same pattern of increase and decrease, but the changes were more pronounced indicating their synergistic effect. The biochemical parameters showed highly significant values (P<0.001) as compared to normal ones. Conclusion: These results indicate that combined treatment of cadmium and gamma radiations causes synergistic or additive effect.