Abstract
For experiments of cadmium toxicity in animal models, cadmium (II) chloride is often used due to its solubility in water and its ability to produce high concentrations of cadmium at the target site. The present study was designed to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of the Fragaria ananassa fruit extract on cadmium (II) chloride-induced renal toxicity in rats. Tested animals were pretreated with the extract of F. ananassa and injected with cadmium (II) chloride (6.5-mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. Cadmium (II) chloride significantly increased kidney cadmium concentration, kidney weight, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide production. Plasma uric acid, urea, and creatinine levels also increased significantly, indicative of kidney dysfunction. These effects were accompanied by significantly decreased levels of nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant molecules (i.e., glutathione content and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). Moreover, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and the antioxidant proteins, superoxide dismutase 2 and glutathione reductase, were downregulated markedly, whereas mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α was upregulated significantly in kidney tissues of cadmium-treated rats. Histology of kidney tissue demonstrated severe, adverse changes that reflected cadmium-induced tissue damage. Pretreatment of rats with the extract of F. ananassa ameliorated all aforementioned cadmium (II) chloride-induced changes. In conclusion, the present study showed acute renal toxicity in rats treated with cadmium (II) chloride. The study also revealed that pretreatment with the extract of F. ananassa could protect the kidney against cadmium (II) chloride-induced acute renal toxicity.