Myocardial oxidative stress following sub-chronic and chronic oral cadmium exposure in rats

► Cd intoxication effects on oxidative stress parameters in the rat heart were evaluated. ► Cd exerts time-of-exposure dependent effects on the antioxidant/prooxidant status in serum and heart. ► Cadmium affects antioxidant enzymes at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in the mammalian heart.