Dietary cadmium decreases lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidneys of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

The effect of elevated levels of dietary cadmium on lipid peroxidation in t he liver and kidneys of a small rodent, the bank vole, was determined in th e present study. Males and females, aged 1 month, were given diets containi ng 0.40 and 80 mg Cd per kg; liver and kidneys were removed for TBA-RS as w ell as iron, copper, zinc, cadmium and metallothionein analyses at the end of 6 weeks. Dietary Cd significantly decreased the TBA-RS level in the live r and kidneys of both sexes; however. this effect appeared to be dose-depen dent only for the male liver. The changes in hepatic and renal TBA-RS paral leled closely those of tissue iron. Copper concentration decreased signific antly only in the male liver, while hepatic and renal zinc were not influen ced by dietary Cd. The concentrations of Cd and metallothionein in the live r and kidneys increased significantly in a dose-dependent fashion. Regressi on analysis confirmed that TBA-RS in both organs correlated closely with ir on. The data suggest that dietary Cd decreases hepatic and renal lipid pero xidation indirectly, through lowering the tissue iron concentration.