Acute and chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd), due to its increased use and application in the industry, can result in the development of atherosclerosis, the occurrence of cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular stroke, as well as carcinogenesis in some organs. The target for cadmium action is thought to be the vascular endothelium.

The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of oxidative stress on blood vessel endothelium induced by subacute administration of cadmium, as well as the protective power of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) supplementation on the Wistar strain albino rat model system.

After anesthesia of rats in the vivarium of the Scientific Research Center for Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine in Niš, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and sent to the Clinic of Nephrology, Clinical Center in Niš, Serbia for determination of hematological parameters.

According to the results of this study, it can be seen that the number of granulocytes is reduced due to cadmium intoxication, which is probably induced by the migration of neutrophils into tissues. The number of lymphocytes was increased due to subacute cadmium intoxication compared to the control group of animals. The positive efficacy of α-LA supplements in combating the adverse effects of cadmium on blood vessels is also confirmed.

Cadmium administration is thought to cause a systemic inflammatory reaction due to the formation of free radicals in the blood vessel endothelium. Administration of α-LA supplement confirms that it can be used as an antioxidant in the clinical management of many diseases and also in cadmium intoxication.

No significant relationships.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and tissue protective effects, as well as the potential therapeutic role, of alpha-lipoic acid in experimentally induced acute otitis media.

Twenty-five guinea pigs were assigned to one of five groups: a control (non-otitis) group, and otitis-induced groups treated with saline, penicillin G, alpha-lipoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G. Tissue samples were histologically analysed, and oxidative parameters in tissue samples were measured and compared between groups.

The epithelial integrity was better preserved, and histological signs of inflammation and secretory metaplasia were decreased, in all groups compared to the saline treated otitis group. In the alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G treated otitis group, epithelial integrity was well preserved and histological findings of inflammation were significantly decreased compared to the saline, penicillin G and alpha-lipoic acid treated otitis groups. The most favourable oxidative parameters were observed in the control group, followed by the alpha-lipoic acid plus penicillin G treated otitis group.

Alpha-lipoic acid, with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tissue protective properties, may decrease the clinical sequelae and morbidity associated with acute otitis media.