Effects of oral and intraperitoneal magnesium treatment against cadmiuminduced oxidative stress in plasma of rats

Cadmium (Cd) has been recognised as one of the most important environmental and industrial pollutants, and up-to-date investigations have shown that one of the mechanisms of its toxicity is associated with the induction of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the connection between acute oral and intraperitoneal exposure to Cd and parameters indicative of oxidative stress in the plasma of rats, as well as to examine the potential protective effect of magnesium (Mg) in conditions of acute oral and intraperitoneal Cd poisoning. The experiment was performed on male albino Wistar rats (n=40) randomly divided into control group, Cd-or group that received 30 mg kg(-1) b.w. Cd by oral gavage, Cd+Mg-or group that orally received 50 mg kg(-1) b.w. Mg one hour before oral Cd, Cd-ip group that received 1.5 mg kg(-1) b.w. Cd intraperitoneally, and Cd+Mg-ip group that intraperitoneally received 3 mg kg(-1) b.w. Mg 10 min before intraperitoneal Cd. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after treatment and the following parameters were measured: superoxide-dismutase activity, superoxide anion, total oxidative status, advanced oxidation protein products, and malondialdehyde. All parameters of oxidative stress in rat plasma were negatively affected by Cd treatment with more pronounced negative effects after intraperitoneal treatment, with the exception of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Although both oral and intraperitoneal Mg pretreatment had protective effects, more pronounced beneficial effects were observed after oral administration, since it managed to completely prevent Cd-induced changes in the investigated parameters. The observed results support the use of Mg as potential protective agent against toxic effects caused by Cd.