Study of the influence of the ph of water in the initiation of digestive tract injury in cadmium poisoning in rats

Cancer has genetic and environmental causes, one of which is the ingestion of heavy metals such as cadmium. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the lesions caused by cadmium poisoning in the digestive tract and the possible effect of the drinking water pH in the initiation of these lesions. METHODS: 90 male Wistar rats were used, divided into six groups (n = 15): A – received 400 mg/l cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in drinking water at a neutral pH of 7.0; B – received CdCl2 (400 mg/l) in drinking water at an acidic pH of 5.0; C – received CdCl2 (400 mg/l) in drinking water at a basic pH of 8.0; D – received water at an acidic pH of 5.0; E – received water at a basic pH of 8.0; and F – received water at a neutral pH of 7.0. Animals were euthanized after 6 months. Samples of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine of each rat were removed for microscopic analysis. RESULTS: There were no microscopic changes in either the esophagus or small and large intestines. Only cadmium-exposed animals showed mild dysplasia of the gastric mucosa (p = 0.012), regardless of the pH (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cadmium exposure led to the formation of dysplastic lesions in the gastric glandular epithelium, regardless of the water pH.