The effect of N-acetylcysteine and sodium selenite in rats with subchronic exposure to cadmium

Objective To study the effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC) and sodium selenite(Na_2SeO_3) on the liver toxicity and nephrotoxicity of rats with subchronic exposure to cadium chloride(CdCl_2).Methods Rats were injected subcutaneously with 7 μmol CdCl_2/kg for 6 weeks;Then intervened groups were injected intraperitoneally with 1 mmol/kg NAC and 10 μmol/kg Na_2SeO_3 respectively for 2 weeks;alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and n-acetylglucosaminidase(NAG) activities in urine were determined.malondialdehyde(MDA) and reduced glutathione(GSH) contents in liver and renal cortex as well as glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activities were mensurated.Results The exposure to CdCl_2 alone had significantly increased Cd contents in liver,renal cortex and urine;ALP,NAG activities and protein contents in urine were obviously increased;GSH contents were obviously increased while GSH-Px activities obviously decreased in both liver and renal cortex in rats;Contrast with the group of rats given Cd alone,NAG activities,Cd and protein contents in urine and GSH contents in both liver and renal cortex with the administration of NAC decreased significantly;The injection of Na_2SeO_3 had significantly reduced Cd contents,ALP activities in urine;The injection of Na_2SeO_3 had also significantly reduced GSH contents while increased GSH-Px activities in both liver and renal cortex.Conclusions NAC and Na_2SeO_3 might have protective effects on Cd induced renal toxicity,which may relate to alter the content of GSH and the activities of GSH-Px.