Effects of vitamin A pretreatment on nickel-induced lipid peroxidation and concentration of essential metals in liver, kidney and lung of mice.

In the present study we report the effects of pretreatment with large doses of vitamin A (Vit A, retinol) on hepatic, renal and pulmonary lipid peroxidation, and Ni and essential metal (Fe, Cu, Zn and Ca) concentrations in mice acutely exposed to nickel. Vitamin A (250,000 IU/kg per day) was administered by oral gavage to ICR mice for 7 days. On the 8th day, NiCl2 (5 mg Ni/kg body wt.) was injected i.p. to Vit A- or vehicle-pretreated mice. Vitamin A pretreatment alone did not alter lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and lung. Lipid peroxidation in liver, kidney and lung was increased after treatment with NiCl2 alone. The extent of lipid peroxidation levels in Vit A + Ni treated mice was enhanced in liver, but reduced in kidney and lung. The Ni concentration in these three organs was below the detection limit (0.09 microg/g) in control and Vit A-pretreated mice. The accumulation of Ni in Vit A + Ni treated mice was increased in liver, but decreased in kidney and lung compared to Ni-treated mice. The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn and Ca in these organs were significantly increased in Ni-treated mice. In Vit A + Ni treated mice, compared to Ni-treated mice, hepatic Fe was significantly increased while Cu, Zn and Ca levels were reduced, but still higher than those of control and Vit A-treated mice. In the kidney of Vit A + Ni treated mice, the increase of Cu, Fe, and Zn but not Ca, was reduced and not significantly different from control and Vit A-treated mice. Pretreatment with Vit A reduced the increased Fe, Cu, Zn and Ca concentration in the lung caused by Ni injection. We therefore conclude that the effect of Vit A pretreatment on Ni toxicity is organ-dependent.