Caffeine reduces cadmium accumulation in the organism and enhances the levels of antioxidant protein expression in the epididymis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine (20. mg/L) intake on cadmium (15. mg/L) accumulation in the rat blood, testes, epididymis and prostate as well as cadmium-induced changes to the antioxidant defense system of the epididymis. Caffeine reduced the cadmium concentration in all tissues analyzed. Meanwhile, cadmium reduced catalase activity and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the epididymis. Caffeine increased SOD activity, catalase and glutathione tissue expression and sustains the cadmium's effect on catalase and GSP-Px activity. No differences in the expression of metallothionein and lipid peroxidation were observed among the different treatments in the epididymis. In conclusion, low doses of cadmium alter the antioxidant enzymatic profile of the epididymis, but not induced oxidative lipid damage. Caffeine intake reduces overall cadmium accumulation in the organism and enhances the levels of antioxidant protein expression in the epididymis, thus exerting a protective effect against this metal. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

Accumulation, Cadmium, Caffeine, Male reproductive tract, Oxidative stress, cadmium, caffeine, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, metallothionein, superoxide dismutase, animal cell, animal experiment, animal model, animal tissue, antioxidant activity, bioaccumulation, concentration response, controlled study, diet supplementation, enzyme activity, epididymis, fluid intake, food intake, lipid peroxidation, male, nonhuman, oxidative stress, protein expression, rat, reproductive toxicity, spermatozoon maturation, tissue distribution, upregulation, Western blotting, Animals, Catalase, Environmental Pollutants, Epididymis, Glutathione, Glutathione Peroxidase, Lipid Peroxides, Male, Oxidative Stress, Protective Agents, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Superoxide Dismutase, Tissue Distribution, Rattus