Abstract:
Abstract—Cadmium is expected to affect the absorption of
other nutrients and appetite through the competition with the
nutrients, causing damages to cell membranes through lipid
peroxidation reactions. Damaged intestinal cells may disrupt
the secretion of one of digestive hormones, ghrelin,
theorexigenic hormone. The purpose of this study was to
analyze the effect of cadmium exposure on the levels of ghrelin
and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats (Rattusnorvegicus). The
study used post-test-only control group design, with 2 groups of
white rats: control group (P0) was given placebo and treatment
group (P1) was exposed to cadmium. Parameters measured
were the levels of MDA and ghrelin. The results showed that
there was no difference in body weights (p=0.057) and ghrelin
concentrations (p=0.910) between the white rats in the control
group and the treatment group. There were significant
differences in the levels of MDA. The treatment group had a
higher MDA level compared with control (p=0.001). It was
concluded that the cadmium exposure for 4 group did not affect
the secretion of ghrelin hormone and body weights of white rats,
but might cause lipid peroxidation in white rats, as evidenced by
the increased MDA level.
