The effect of cadmium on visual evoked potentials in alloxane-induced diabetic rats: relation to lipid peroxidation

Fifty-two healthy male Swiss albino rats, aged three months, were used in t his study. They were divided into four groups: control (C), diabetic (D), c admium (Cd), and diabetic + Cd (D + Cd). A diabetic condition was induced i n D and D + Cd groups by administration of alloxane (5 mg/100 g). After thi s treatment, Cd and D + Cd groups were injected intraperitoneally with CdCl 2 (2 mg/kg week). At the end of the 2-month experimental period, flash visu al evoked potentials (FVEPs) of the four groups were recorded with disk ele ctrodes attached with electrode paste 0.5 cm in front of and behind the bre gma. The mean latencies of the P-1, N-1, P-2, N-2 and P-3 components were s ignificantly prolonged in the diabetic group compared with the control grou p. The mean latencies of P-3 in the D + Cd group and of P-1 and P-3 in the Cd group were longer than those of the control group. P2N2 amplitude of Cd and D + Cd groups were significantly increased compared with the control gr oup. On the other hand, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) wer e determined as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Our data showed that Cd treatment and diabetic condition caused a significant increase of lipid pe roxidation in kidney, brain, retina and lens.