THE INFLUENCE OF DRINKING WATER WITH DIFFERENT CONTENTS OF POTASSIUM STEARATE IN COMBINATION WITH HEAVY METALS ON INDICATORS OF THE ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM IN RATS

Abstract

Introduction. Often falling into reservoirs as part of wastewater, heavy metal compounds can come into contact with other priority surface water pollutants, including surface-active substances, which are the main components of all washing powders.

The aim of the study – to investigate the effect of drinking water with different contents of potassium stearate in isolation and in combination with cadmium, copper and manganese on the indicators of the antioxidant system.

Research Methods. The experiment was carried out on 78 white male rats weighing 180–200 g, which were divided into a control group (6 rats) that consumed drinking water from a city tap and three experimental groups of 24 animals in each that voluntarily consumed drinking water with SC content in in the following quantities: group 1 – 125.0 mg/l, which was equal to the maximum inactive dose (MID) of the substance, group 2 – 62.5 mg/l (or ½ MID), group 3 – 31.2 mg/l (or ¼ MID). 25 days after the start of the experiment, each experimental group was divided into 4 subgroups of 6 rats each, which were intragastrically injected with cadmium chloride, manganese chloride, and copper sulfate in doses of 1/20 of the LD50, respectively. Animals were removed from the experiment under sodium thiopental anesthesia 30 days after the start of the experiment. To evaluate the antioxidant system, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CT) in the liver homogenate was determined according to standard methods.

Results and Discussion. Drinking water containing potassium stearate in amounts equal to MID and ½ MID by rats had a negative effect on the state of cell membranes of hepatocytes, as evidenced by inhibition of the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes. The combination of SC with heavy metals, even after a single administration of the latter, increased their toxic effect, which was evidenced by a more pronounced inhibition of AOS activity, which was more pronounced under the influence of cadmium chloride.

Conclusion. The use of drinking water with potassium stearate in concentrations of 125.0 and 65.5 mg/l increases the toxic effect of heavy metals on the body of rats. Therefore, with long-term consumption of drinking water, even with a small content of synthetic surface-active substances against the background of heavy metals, over time there is a potential risk of developing pathological processes in certain organs (heart, liver, kidneys), which threatens the health of the population.