Protective effect of diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) against cadmium-induced toxicity in mice.

Protective efficacy of diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) has been studied against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) induced hematological and biochemical alterations in Swiss albino mice. CdCl2 (5 mg/kg b.wt.; i.p.) with or without prior treatment of diltiazem (100 mg/kg b. wt.; i.p.) was given to six-week old mice. Significant increase in the number of bone marrow cells as well as hematological parameters was observed in diltiazem pretreated CdCl2 intoxicated animals. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and acid phosphatase (ACP) level, and decrease in glutathione (GSH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in blood as well as liver were measured in CdCl2 intoxicated mice, while such values were near normal in DTZ pretreated animals. Furthermore, a significant increase in erythropoeitin (EPO) level was observed in diltiazem (DTZ) pretreated CdCl2 intoxicated animals as compared to CdCl2 alone treated animals. Thus, Diltiazem administration before cadmium intoxication protects bone marrow and hematological constituents in mice.