Abstract
This study determined the effect of lead-cadmium toxicity in the liver of albino rats. 56 rats were divided into 7 groups of 8 rats each and were treated as follows : Group A Control (1 ml of diluent (corn oil); Group B (15mg/kg BW cadmium); Group C(50mg/kg BW lead); Group D (15mg/kg BW Cadmium and 50mg/kg BW lead); Group E (15mg/kg BW cadmium, 50mg/kg BW lead and 23mg/kg BW vitamin E);Group F (15mg/kg BW cadmium, 50mg/kg BW lead and 25mg/kg BW Butylated HydroxylToluene) and Group G (15 mg/kg BW Cd+50mg/kg BW lead+25mg/kg BW (BHT + vitamin E). Rats were sacrificed on the 29th and 56th day in sub-acute and chronic exposure respectively. Liver function, oxidative stress markers and histological examination were carried out. Results indicate that rats exposed to cadmium and lead suffered liver damage due to the significant (P<0.05) increase in Alanine Transferase, Aspartate transferase and Alkaline phosphatase, and significant decrease (P<0.05) in Total Protein and Albumin in the serum. Malonaldehyde (MDA) levels were also significantly increased (P<0.05) with a concomitant decrease in Superoxide dismutase, catalase and Glutathione peroxidase activities in both the chronic and acute exposure phase. Vitamin E and BHT singly had little ameliorative effect on the liver; however, a combination of these antioxidants reduced the enzymes levels significantly. Treatment with the antioxidants (Vitimin E and BHT) both singly and combined was also able to ameliorate the effects of the oxidative stress induced by the metals as was further confirmed by the histopathological reports.