The Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Zinc and Copper Concentrations in Blood and Lung Tissue of Male Wistar Rats Treated with Cadmium

Cadmium has similar chemical and physical properties to metals such as zinc and copper, can be transferred to cells via an ionic and molecular process, and disrupts cell biological functions and homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cadmium chloride on serum and tissue levels of zinc and copper, Also, the protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing cadmium-induced toxicity and tissue inflammation in the lung tissue of rats exposed to single-dose and continuous-dose cadmium.

30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of six in this interventional-experimental study. The control group only received regular water and food. The first group received a single dose treatment of 80 mg/kg of cadmium chloride on the first day of the study, while the second group received a continuous dose of 2.5 mg / kg of cadmium chloride every other day for 4 weeks.  On the first day of the study, the third group received a single dose of 80 mg / kg cadmium chloride along with 50 mg / kg N-acetylcysteine. For four weeks, the fourth treatment group received a continuous dose of 2. 5 mg of cadmium chloride along with 50 mg of N-acetylcysteine. Cadmium chloride and N-acetylcysteine were administered to the animals via gavage. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples from the heart were taken to determine the level of the elements. After anesthesia, lung tissue was removed from the chest and part of it was used for histological work, while the other part was used to measure element levels.

Treatment with cadmium chloride showed a decrease in serum copper levels in the second treatment group compared to the control group (P-value <0.01). In addition, cadmium chloride treatment in the second treatment group compared to the control group caused a significant reduction in copper tissue level (P-value <0.001). Cadmium chloride treatment reduced serum zinc levels in the second treatment group compared to the control group (P-value <0.01). Tissue level of zinc in the second treatment group compared to the control showed a significant decrease (P-value <0.001). Simultaneous treatment of cadmium chloride and N-acetylcysteine ​​in the fourth treatment group as a continuous dose compared to the second treatment group caused a significant increase in serum copper level (P-value <0.05). And copper tissue level in the fourth treatment group increased significantly compared to the second treatment group (P-value <0. 001). Also, simultaneous treatment of cadmium chloride and N-acetylcysteine ​​in the fourth treatment group showed that serum zinc level (P-value <0.05) and tissue level of zinc (P-value <0.01) were significantly higher than the second treatment group.

Continuous N-acetylcysteine administration reduces the toxicity of cadmium chloride in rats exposed to a continuous dose of cadmium chloride and improves serum and tissue copper and zinc levels.