European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ALTERATIONS IN DISACCHARIDASES’ ACTIVITIES FOLLOWING CADMIUM AND CRUDE PETROLEUM OIL CO-ADMINISTRATION IN RATS VIA FOOD-CHAIN

Richard Omonigho Ovie* and George Edaghogho Eriyamremu

ABSTRACT

It has long been established that cadmium (Cd) and crude petroleum oil (CPO) are deleterious to the ecosystem (soil, animals and plants). The link between these forms of pollution to man has been an area of interest. Contamination from metals and CPO components are mainly from the drinking water or food of a population. The study was aimed at assessing the alterations in disaccharidases activities following cadmium and crude petroleum oil co-administration in rats via food-chain. Cadmium and Total Hydrocarbon (THC) contents in control and test fish diets were analyzed and the activities of disaccharidases in the duodenum of control and test rats assayed. Sixty-four (64) male albino rats of Wistar strain were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 16 rats in each group. Test groups (B, C and D) were fed formulated diet made from Cd (4 ppm), CPO (0.8 ppm) and Cd + CPO-exposed fish respectively. Control group (A) was fed diet not exposed to Cd and CPO contaminated fish. All animals were fed 320 g of diet daily and allowed access to drinking water ad libitum. Cd and THC contents were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the test diets made from Cd and CPO-exposed fish (singly and combined) respectively, when compared to control. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the activities of disaccharidases in the rats after 8 weeks, while after 4 weeks there was no significant difference (p ˃ 0.05) observed. Thus, Cd and CPO co-administration greatly alter digestion and absorption as a direct effect on toxicity.

Keywords: Disaccharidases; Cadmium; Food-Chain; Co-Administration; Alterations.