SHORT COMMUNICATION
Effect of Zinc on [3H]Thymidine, [3H]Uridine
and [3H]Glicine Incorporation in the Tissues
of Rats Prenatally Exposured to Cadmium
Dariusz Boroń1, Janusz Konecki1, Olgierd Batoryna1, Jadwiga Jośko2, Jacek Drab2,
Ryszard Szkilnik3, Wiesław Rycerski1, Piotr Gorczyca4, Ryszard Brus3,5
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1Department of Histology and Embriology, Medical University of Silesia, Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
2Department of Environmental Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Silesia,
Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
3Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Jordana 38, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
4Clinic of Psychiatric Diseases, Medical University of Silesia,
Pyskowicka 49, 42-600 Tarnowskie Góry, Poland
5High School of Strategic Planning, Department of Nursery,
Kościelna 6, 41-303 Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2010;19(6):1377-1382
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
On the the first day of pregnancy, Wistar rats were administered a single IP injection of either zinc sulfate
(10.0 mg/kg) or saline. For the remainder of pregnancy, half the rats in each group then consumed filtered
tap water while the other half consumed filtered tap water with 50 ppm of cadmium (Cd (CH3COO2). At eight
weeks after birth both groups were injected with [3H]thymidine (incorporated to DNA) or [3H]uridine (incorporated
to RNA) or [3H]glicine (incorporated to protein) 1 μCi/kg IP. Four hours later rats were sacrificed by
decapitation and parts of the brain and peripheral tissues were excised and examined for radioactivity in a liquid
scintillation counter. Results were presented as a desintegration per minute – DPM/100 mg wet tissue
weight, which expressed labeled substances incorporation. Prenatal cadmium exposure decreased incorporation
of thymidine, uridine, and glicine in all examined tissues and organs. A single injection of zinc, preceding
cadmium consumption, attenuated the effects of cadmium on incorporation of examined substances in
peripheral organs, mostly liver, kidney, and pancreas. We concluded and confirmed our previous founding that
a single zinc inection prior to cadmium exposure prevents some of its toxic effects on DNA, RNA, and protein
synthesis in peripheral tissues of mammals.