Protective effects of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in the liver and kidney of the rat: Histology and Cd accumulation

To assess the co-effect of Se and Zn on Cd accumulation in the liver and kidney and on their histology, male rats were exposed either to Cd, Cd + Zn, Cd + Se, or Cd + Zn + Se in their drinking water, during 35 days. Exposure to Cd resulted in its accumulation in the liver and kidney. In the Cd–Zn and Cd–Zn–Se groups, Cd contents in the two organs were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in the Cd group. Se did not induce any significant difference in hepatic and renal concentrations of Cd in comparison to Cd-treated group. Light microscopic examination indicated severe histological changes in the two organs under Cd influence. Se or Zn partially alleviated the damage observed in the liver. The same effect was remarked in the kidney with Se, but no differences in the renal histological structure have been observed between the Zn–Cd and the control groups. With Se and Zn simultaneous treatment during Cd exposure, the observed morphological changes had practically disappeared from the liver, but were only reduced in the kidney. Conclusion: Se and Zn can have a cooperative effect in the protection against Cd-induced structural damage in the liver but not in the kidney.