Biphasic effect of cadmium in non-cytotoxic conditions on the secretion of nitric oxide from peritoneal macrophages

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) 1999-11, Vol.139 (1), p.167-177
• Main Authors: Ramirez, Dario C., Martinez, Luis D., Marchevsky, Eduardo, Gimenez, Maria S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Cadmium; Cadmium - toxicity; Cell Separation; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Coloring Agents; In Vitro Techniques; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipoperoxidation; Macrophages; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric oxide synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; peritoneum; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0300-483X; 1879-3185
• DOI: 10.1016/S0300-483X(99)00086-4

The effects of cadmium (Cd) in non-cytotoxic conditions on the nitric oxide (NO) production in peritoneal macrophages (pM) were studied. Peritoneal macrophages from Balb/c mice were incubated over 18 h with 5, 10, 20, or 25 μM Cd 2+ (as CdCl 2 21:2 H 2O) in the culture medium. Concentrations of 20 μM Cd 2+ and over had cytotoxic effects, measured by MTT assay. Cell viability with 10 μM Cd 2+ in the medium was above 90% after 18 h of incubation, and above 80% after 72 h. At this same Cd 2+ concentration, NO production increased from 6 to 18 h. At 24 h production decreased but was still above control levels. At 48 h production NO was near control levels, and continued to decrease until the end of the experiment (72 h). NO levels produced with Cd 2+ concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μM in the medium were above the control at 18 h. NO production and lipoperoxidation increased simultaneously after 18 h with 10 μM of Cd in the medium. Amounts of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein and iNOS activity also increased. At a concentration of 10 μM Cd has a biphasic effect on NO production over time.