Nephroprotective Potential of Ca and Mg against Cd and Pb in Rats

Abstract

Adverse environmental impacts from excessive heavy metals dispersed from mines and smelter sites include contamination of water, soil and phytotoxicity leading to potential risks to human health. One of the organs that are exposed to heavy metal toxicity is the kidney. In this study, concurrent administration of different combinations of Cd, Pb, Ca andMgwere carried out using a rat model to determine the nephrotoxicity of Cd and Pb, and also the nephroprotective potential of Ca and Mg against Cd and Pb. Studies indicate that the urinary excretion of Cd and Pb ions were increased as the concentrations of the combination of Ca and Mg were elevated thus: 0.0302±0.002, 0.0665±0.001, 0.0911±0.002, 0.2284±0.005, 0.0808±0.000 and 0.0246±0.001, 0.0095±0.002, 0.0881±0.0.003, 0.1037±0.003, 0.0940±0.000 respectively. The addition of either Cd or Pb salt alone without the addition of Ca and Mg salts show that the urinary excretion of Cd ions decreased as compared to control irrespective of the concentration of Cd or Pb salt added, while the Ca excretion increased as follow: 0.0302±0.002, 0.0163±0.002, 0.0144±0.000, 0.0122±0.002, 0.0131±0.000 and 8.0700±0.006, 14.6400±0.016, 10.3600±0.058, 16.1700±0.037, 21.8100±0.026 respectively. The biochemical and histopathological analyses show that Cd and Pb have nephrotoxicity, while Ca andMghave nephroprotective potential against Cd and Pb in rats. This nephroprotection stems from the fact that the excretory pattern of the metals revealed that there exist mutual exclusivity between Ca/Cd, Ca/Pb, Mg/Cd, and Mg/Pb.