Comparative Analysis of Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rats Exposed to Different Doses of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury

This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress responses in rats exposed to varying doses of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg), with an emphasis on understanding the mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Thirty-five adult male Albino rats were used in this experimental study and were divided into groups for exposure to low and high doses of each heavy metal. The groups consisted of a control group and three treatment groups, each receiving either cadmium, lead, or mercury. The rats were housed under standard laboratory conditions, maintained on a commercial pelleted diet, and allowed free access to food and water. Over a period of two weeks, the rats were exposed to the metals through oral administration of metal solutions prepared using cadmium chloride, lead acetate, and mercury chloride. The study focused on assessing neuroinflammatory markers and oxidative stress levels in the brain, with the aim of identifying dose-dependent effects and comparing the impact of different metals. The experimental design involved the use of laboratory tools such as EDTA bottles, hematocrit centrifuge, and micro hematocrit capillary tubes for sample collection, and chemical reagents including buffered formalin and sucrose solution for tissue processing. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the neurotoxic effects of these heavy metals and help elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.