High sucrose consumption potentiates the sub-acute cadmium effect on Na+/K+ -ATPase but not on delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase in mice.

High sucrose consumption and sub-acute cadmium effects on delta-ALA-D activity, Na+/K+ -ATPase activity, and lipid peroxidation were studied in different tissues of mice. Experimental groups were control, high sucrose (200 g/L), cadmium (5 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously, two consecutive doses in different days in each week, during 4 weeks), and sucrose plus cadmium. There was a significant increase in TBARS levels for spleen and liver in cadmium and sucrose plus cadmium groups. Testicular delta-ALA-D activity of cadmium and sucrose plus cadmium-treated animals was significantly inhibited, whereas the enzyme activity increased in blood (cadmium and sucrose plus cadmium groups) and spleen (sucrose plus cadmium group). Na+/K+ -ATPase activity was significantly decreased in brain and kidney of sucrose plus cadmium-treated animals. Our data indicate that sub-acute cadmium treatment inhibits significantly testicular delta-ALA-D activity, demonstrating the prevalent cadmium effect in vivo on reproductive systems. Furthermore, high sucrose consumption and sub-acute cadmium treatment have interactive effects on cerebral and renal Na+/K+ -ATPase, showing that a short-term intake of high quantity of sucrose can aggravate the toxicity of Cd2+.