Role of lipid peroxidation in cadmium-induced impairment of the gastric mucosal barrier.

Peroxidative tissue damage has been reported to contribute to several pathological disorders. Despite high exposure to both exogenous and endogenous oxidant stress, the strong cell defence mechanism of the gastric mucosa protects mucosal epithelial cells against these noxious stimuli. However, some environmental factors involved in lipid peroxidation (such as cadmium), which disrupt gastric mucosal protection, may impair the mucosal barrier and facilitate the occurrence of gastric ulcers. In an experimental study to investigate this hypothesis, the level of cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation products (TBARS) and an antioxidant enzyme (SOD) were investigated. The mucin content (P < 0.01) and prostaglandin levels (P < 0.05) of mucosa as components of the gastric mucosal barrier were found to be significantly reduced in rats exposed to 15 ppm of cadmium in water for 30 days when compared with those of unexposed controls. TBARS levels in blood (P < 0.05) and mucosa (P < 0.001) increased markedly in cadmium-exposed animals whereas blood SOD levels remained unchanged. The significant correlation between TBARS and mucosal cadmium (r = 0.664, P < 0.01), as well as between cadmium and PGE2 (r = -0.719, P < 0.01), led to the conclusion that cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation is involved in the increased vulnerability of gastric mucosa to injurious stimuli in rats. This susceptibility may be responsible for the high incidence of stress-induced gastric ulcer in the population.