Asian Journal of Research in Nephrology

Cadmium chloride exposure is associated with oxidative stress and structural injury in tissues, including endocrine organs. This study evaluated the protective effect of oral L-arginine against cadmium chloride-induced toxicity in the adrenal glands of adult male Wistar rats. Twenty-five rats were allocated to five groups comprising a control group, a cadmium-only group, an L-arginine-only group, and two cadmiums plus L-arginine co-treatment groups receiving low or high L-arginine doses. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 14 days. At the end of the exposure period, adrenal tissues were harvested for histological examination and biochemical assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Cadmium exposure produced degenerative histological changes in the adrenal tissue, including cellular degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuolation, nuclear pyknosis, and distortion of capillaries. The cadmium-only group also showed increased MDA and reduced SOD, CAT, and GPx activities, indicating oxidative imbalance. Co-treatment with L-arginine reduced MDA levels and increased antioxidant enzyme activities relative to the cadmium-only group, with the higher L-arginine dose showing greater histological preservation and biochemical improvement. Within the conditions of this experiment, L-arginine showed a protective effect against cadmium chloride-induced adrenal injury, associated with improved antioxidant status and preservation of adrenal histoarchitecture in this experimental model.