Effects of alcoholic solutions of three salts of metals on some hepatorenal biochemical parameters in albino Wistar rats

Abstract

Toxicants are present in alcoholic drinks both of which are toxic to the liver and kidney. But do combination of two heavy and one trace metal salts affect the toxicity of alcohol in vivo? This work sought to compare effects of alcohol alone (control), with alcoholic solutions of salts of Cd, Pb, Zn and Mn on liver and kidney parameters. Further, to compare toxic effects of Cd and Pb in presence of Zn and also in the presence of Mn. To unravel this, 20 male albino Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each and orally administered appropriate doses of alcoholic solution containing Pb(CH₃CH₂OO^-)₂+CdCl₂+ZnSO₄ (A), in one case and Pb(CH₃CH₂OO^-)₂+ CdCl₂+MnCl₂ (B) in the other based on 10 ml/kg volume selection calculations. Rats were fed once daily and spectrophotometry was applied for the analysis. The control contained 5% (v/v) alcohol concentration. Treatment with A, for 7 and 14 consecutive days significantly (p<0.05) elevated serum activities (IU) of aspartate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), 241.51±0.47, alanine transaminase (ALT), 69.43±.35 compared to control group values except alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 154.86±0.55 (p>0.05). Mean serum levels of total proteins (TP), in gdm^-3, was 73.81±0.65 (p<0.05); levels of urea (UR) and creatinine (CR), mMoldm^-3, were 37.38±0.32 and 39.75±0.45 respectively (p<0.05) relative control group values. B administered for 7 and 14 days significantly increased (p<0.05) activities of AST, ALT, ALP as well as ALB, UR (251.25±2.11, 87.43±3.12, 245.19±2.31, 37.34±1.49, 7.47±0.64) respectively; levels of TP and CR were not significantly higher (P>0.05) relative control group values. Whereas treatment with A elevated the hepatic parameters, treatment with B raised the concentration of the nephrotic parameters. Since cadmium and lead salts were common to both A and B, ZnSO₄ appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of both salts on the liver better than MnCl₂ which, in turn, modulated effects on the kidney better. It would mean therefore that Cd and Pb aggravate the hepato-nephrotic toxicity of alcohol. Presence of Zn and Mn reduced the adverse effects of the salts on hepatic and nephrotic biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats respectively.

Keywords: Alcohol, Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Manganese, Liver, Kidney.