Investigation of the effects of some steroids on acute and chronic cadmium toxicity in mice

97 7.SUMMARY The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of steroid agents in cadmium-induced acute and chronic toxicity in mice. A total of 840 animals (420 male and 420 female) were used in this study. Following acute and chronic cadmium-induced toxicity, 5 mg/kg oestrogen, 100 mg/kg progesterone, 10 mg/kg prednizolon, 10 mg/kg testosterone and 2.5 mg/kg oestrogen plus 50 mg/kg progesterone were subcutaneously (s.c.) administered or co-administered to the mice. In the choronic applications, both male and female animals were given cadmium chlorur (1 mg/kg) by adding the drinking water daily for three months. After these three mounth period, the animals were s.c. injected with the steroid agents and then decapitated 24 h later. Tissue cadmium concentrations were determined by using Atomic Absobrtion Spectrophotometry (AAS), serum alanin amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values were determined by using Auto Analyzator. Following chronic cadmium toxicity, liver cadmium levels were increased in the progesterone group but decreased in the terstosterone-treated male mice. Kidney cadmium concentrations were raised in the prednizolon- treated group but decreased in testosterone-received male animals, however, no changes were observed in the other steroid-treated groups. Serum ALT, AST and BUN levels were found to be similar to those seen in the controls. Following chronic cadmium toxicity in the female mice, liver cadmium concentrations were decreased in the oestrogen, progesterone, oestrogen+progesterone and testosterone-injected groups. Its levels in the kidney were also reduced in the oestrogen+progesterone-treated mice. There was no significant changes in the serum concentrations of ALT, AST98 and BUN. Decreased body weight, reduced haemotocrit and shrunk erythrocytes were seen in the chronically cadmium administered animals of both sex. Acute cadmium toxicity was induced by s.c. injection of 1.8 and 3.6 mg/kg of cadmium chloride. Liver cadmium levels of male mice were found to be decreased when 1.8 mg/kg cadmium was applied with oestrogen, progesterone, prednizolone and oestrogen plus progesterone. Kidney cadmium levels of male animals were also reduced after receiving progesterone, prednizolone and oestrogen plus progesterone with 1.8 mg/kg cadmium chloride. In female mice, both liver and kidney cadmium levels were reduced after oestrogen, progesterone and prednizolone administration with 1.8 mg/kg cadmium chloride. No significant changes were observed in the other treatment groups. Both liver and kidney cadmium concentrations were decreased in all the male mice treated with 3.6 mg/kg cadmium chloride and several steroid agents. In addition, there was 5-35% mortality in these groups. In the female animals receiving 3.6 mg/kg of cadmium chloride with oestrogen, progesterone, oestrogen+progesterone, prednizolon and testosterone, kidney and liver cadmium levels were reduced. There was also 10-20% mortality in the female mice. In both male and female mice receiving 1.8 and 3.6 mg/kg cadmium together with the steroid agents, serum ALT, AST levels were found to be increased whereas BUN levels decreased in comparison to the control group values. In conclusion, in both male and female mice application of steroid agents altered the cadmium-induced toxicity and tissue distrub. Although liver and kidney cadmium levels were reduced following administration of99 the steroids, damages were observed in the liver. When high doses of cadmium were applied together with the steroid agents, mortality occurred. Thus, it is suggested that hormonal status of the animals may have determining effects on cadmium-induced toxicity.