Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo the subchronic effects of cadmium and zinc ions on translational machinery in mouse liver. Material and methods: Four- to six-week-old outbred mice were used in the experiments. Mice of the experimental groups were given drinking water supplemented by cadmium chloride (2.2 mmoles Cd/l of drinking water) and/or zinc sulphate (7.6 mmoles Zn/l of drinking water) for an 8-week period. Mice of the control group had free access to drinking water. Total tRNAs were isolated using deproteinized extract of liver tissue. Postmitochondrial supernatant was a source of leucyl-tRNA synthetase. Activities of tRNA^Leu and leucyl-tRNA synthetase were measured by an amino acylation reaction using 14C-labeled leucine. Results: Body weight gain of experimental mice as compared to the control group was lower throughout the whole period of Cd intoxication. A decrease in the relative weight index of the kidney was found in the Cd-treated mouse group as compared to the control group. The body weight gain of Zn-treated mice was the same as in control mice during all study, except a small decrease in body weight during the first weeks. Zn²⁺ decreased the relative weight index of the liver. Examination of the summary effect of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ on body weight gain in mice showed that Zn²⁺, administered together with Cd²⁺, abolished the inhibitory effect of Cd²⁺ on mouse growth. Zn²⁺ also eliminated the decrease in relative weight index of the kidney after intoxication with Cd²⁺. An increase in incorporation of ¹⁴C-labeled leucine into newly synthesized peptides and proteins was detected in the liver, kidney, and heart, as well as increases of RNA^Leu acceptor activity and leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity in the liver of Cd-exposed mice. Examination of the common effect of Zn and Cd ions in vivo showed the protective effect of zinc ions on the translation system in the mouse liver. Conclusion: Under subchronic oral intoxication of mice by cadmium chloride, zinc ions are able to protect the translational machinery in the liver against Cd-induced activation.

Author Details

Authors

• I. Staneviciene¹,²
• L. Ivanoviene¹
• A. Smalinskiene³
• I. Sadauskiene¹,²
• A. Kasauskas¹
• L. Ivanov¹,²

Departments

• ¹ Department of Biochemistry,
• ² Institute for Biomedical Research and
• ³ Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

Address

Dr. I. Staneviciene
Institute for Biomedical Research
Kaunas University of Medicine
Eiveniu st. 4
50009 Kaunas, Lithuania
Email: [email protected]

Citation