Metabolic Evaluation of the Combined Effect of Acute Cadmium Chloride and Restraint Stress Exposure in Female Wistar Rats

Cadmium is a heavy metal that has been shown to induce metabolic changes while restraint stress is a model of psychological stress used to induce behavioural and physiological changes. This study investigated the combined effect of cadmium chloride administration and restraint stress exposure on metabolic profile of female Wistar rats. Twenty four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups containing six rats per group; Control (CTL) was given only feed and water. Cadmium alone (CCC) and Restraint stress alone(RSS), respectively, were orally administered 100 mg/kg b.w of cadmium chloride and subjected to restraint stress using wire mesh for 30 minutes daily while Cadmium+Restraint stress (RSC) was administered 100 mg/kg b.w of cadmium chloride and restrained for 30 minutes daily. Body weights of the animals were recorded daily throughout the experiment. Twenty-four hours after the last cadmium administration and restraint stress exposure, all animal were anesthetized and sacrificed. Blood was collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Results showed significant (p<0.05) increase in serum glucose and cortisol levels but not significant in insulin level of CCC group when compared to control. Serum glucose, insulin, cortisol showed significant (p<0.05) increase in RSS group when compared to control. In RSC group, glucose and insulin was significantly (p<0.05) increased when compared to CCC but not significant when compared with RSS. Cortisol was significantly (p<0.05) increased in RSC group when compared with other groups. Result showed significant (p<0.05) increase in CHO, LDL and TAG of CCC and RSS groups when compared with control. RSC showed significant (p<0.05) increase in CHO, LDL and TAG when compared with CCC and RSS groups. Serum HDL levels showed no significant difference across all groups. Conclusively, cadmium chloride and restraint stress exposure individually lead to metabolic dysfunction and dyslipidemia while the combined exposure exacerbated these effects in female rats.