Objective: The present study assessed the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure to a very low environmentally relevant dose of hexavalent chromium along with the ameliorative potential of selenium and Vitamin E in male rats.
Methods: Twenty-four male albino rats were divided into four groups. Animals of control group received only distilled water. The treated group received solution of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) at a dose of 1 mg/kg b.w./day. The third group received sodium selenate (0.25 mg/kg bw) plus Vitamin E (100 mg/kg bw). The supplemented group received sodium selenate plus Vitamin E along with K2Cr2O7 solution. The animals were treated for 90 consecutive days.
Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight gain and an increase in liver and kidney weight along with an increase in serum glucose, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine; a decrease in protein and albumin levels in the rats treated with K2Cr2O7. The activities of serum enzymes, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase, were also increased in treated animals. The activities of enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, GPx and the levels of GSH reduced significantly and level of malondialdehyde increased in K2Cr2O7 treated rats. Liver and kidney tissues exhibited features of toxicity in chromium treated animals. All the effects were reversed in supplemented group.
Conclusion: Chronic exposure to K2Cr2O7 at a very low environmentally relevant dose caused hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by oxidative stress in male albino rats; the effects were ameliorated by supplementation with selenium and Vitamin E in combination.
MODULATORY ROLE OF SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY AND NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS EXPOSED SUB-CHRONICALLY TO HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM