Histopathological alterations in the brain regions of rats after perinatalcombined treatment with cadmium and dexamethasone

Industrial and environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) is well known to prod uce multiorgan toxicity in humans. Metallothionein (MT) is a cellular ligan d for Cd. R IT has been shown to protect against Cd-induced toxicity in man y organs including brain. In this study, we described the histopathological alterations in parietal cortex, striatum. hippocampus and cerebellum of ra ts following perinatal combined exposure to cadmium and dexamethasone (Dx), a drug known to induce MT synthesis in blain. Wistar rats of 13 days of ag e were treated for 5 days, as follows; ii) saline solution. (2) CdCl2 I mg/ kg per day, (3) Dx 2 mg/kg per day, (4) CdCl2 I mg/kg per day + Dx 2 mg/kg/ day. Rats were killed on either 18 or 28 days of age. The content of Cd in parietal cortex, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum at 18 days old age in creased 58.3-, 9.4-, 18.3- and 11.3-fold, while at 28 days of age in the sa me regions the increases were 6.6-, 5.8-, 25.3- and 11.3-fold in the Cd tre ated rats. respectively. No lesions were observed in the brain of control r ats. Rats treated with Dx at 28 days of age showed interstitial edema in th e four regions. Cd-treated rats at 28 days of ape showed lesions in the fou r studied regions, In general Ds treatment attenuated all Cd-induced lesion s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.