In Vitro Diabetogenic Effect of Cadmium on Liver

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of cadmium (Cd) on glucose metabolism disruption in liver cells homogenate in vitro. The glucose metabolism disruption was analyzed by measuring the level of liver glucose, glycogen and methylglyoxal (MG), and the activity of glucokinase activity. In this experiment, a liver sample was taken from male rats (Rattus novergicus). Samples then homogenized and divided into four groups with; C served as control which contains liver homogenate only; T1 which contains liver homogenate + 0.03 mg/l of cadmium sulphate (CdSO4); T2 which contains liver homogenate + 0.3 mg/l of CdSO4; and T3 which contains liver homogenate + 3 mg/l of CdSO4. After treatment, liver glucose, glycogen, and MG levels, and glucokinase activity were estimated. The activity of liver glucokinase was estimated by measuring the Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) value. The results revealed that Cd exposure could significantly increase glucose and MG levels, the Km value of glucokinase, and decreased the glycogen level in liver cells (P>0.05). These results indicated that Cd exposure induced the disruption of glucose metabolism in the liver.