Combined effect of vanadium(V) and chromium(III) on lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney of rats

Since chromium(III) was demonstrated to have antioxidative action, we have decided to study the effect of this element on V-induced LPO in liver and kidney of rats. Outbred 2-month-old, albino male Wistar rats received daily, for a period of 12 weeks: group I (control), deionized water to drink; group II, sodium metavanadate (SMV) solution at a concentration of 0.100 mg V/mL; group III, chromium chloride (CC) solution at a concentration of 0.004 mg Cr/mL and group IV, SMV–CC solution at a concentration of 0.100 mg V and 0.004 mg Cr/mL. The particular experimental groups took up with drinking water about 8.6 mg V/kg b.w./24 h (group II), 0.4 mg Cr/kg b.w./24 h (group III), 9 mg V and 0.36 mg Cr/kg b.w./24 h (group IV). The V- or Cr-treated groups had higher concentrations of these two elements in liver and kidney compared to the controls. The administration of vanadium alone caused a significant decrease in fluid intake and in body weight gain compared to the controls. In liver supernatants obtained from all tested rats a statistically significant increase in MDA concentration was demonstrated in spontaneous LPO in comparison with the control rats. Moreover, in rats intoxicated with vanadium alone a statistically significant increase in liver MDA level was observed in the presence of 100 μM NaVO3. Instead, in supernatants of liver received from rats treated with chromium alone, a statistically significant increase in MDA concentration in comparison with the controls was found in the presence of 400 μM NaVO3. In kidney supernatants obtained from rats treated with chromium alone, a statistically significant increase in lipid peroxidation was shown in the presence of 30 μM FeSO4 and 400 μM NaVO3. These results show that the tested doses of vanadium(V) and chromium(III) ingested by rats with their drinking water caused significant alterations in internal organs, especially in liver. Under the conditions of our experiment, Cr(III) did not demonstrate antioxidant action, it rather had an oxidant effect.