الفهرس 
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Abstract
In this study, the median lethal dose (LD50) of cadmium sulfate was determined firstly. Then, the animals were classified at the start of the experiment, into two groups; a control (contains 15 rats) and an intoxicated one (contains 45 rats), which received drinking water contains 30 ppm cadmium for 10 weeks. At the end of the 6th week of the experiment, the intoxicated group was subdivided equally into three groups. The second and third groups respectively were injected intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg/day macroparticles or nanoparticles CaNa2EDTA for 4 courses (4 days each) with an interval of 3 days between the courses. Results showed that, the estimated median lethal dose (LD50) of cadmium sulfate for adult female rats was 240 mg/kg. Cadmium significantly reduced body weight gain and food consumption and induced a marked depression. Cadmium also induced histopathological changes in liver, kidney and bones and decreased bone mineralization as revealed by X-ray examination. Serum urea and creatinine concentrations were significantly increased by cadmium. Concentrations of cadmium and metallothionein in serum and urine were significantly increased in cadmium-intoxicated rats. Cellular immune response (as determined by the total and differential leucocytic counts, the phagocytic activity of neutrophils, lymphocytes transformation and serum lysozyme activity) were significantly affected. Humoral immune response as estimated by the measurement of electrophoresis pattern of serum proteins and cytokines production (serum IL-2 and IL-6) was significantly decreased by cadmium. These cadmium-associated alterations were markedly alleviated by CaNa2EDTA nanoparticles treatment, while CaNa2EDTA macroparticles treatment induced a mild protective effect when compared with the nanoparticles form. These findings suggested that CaNa2EDTA nanoparticles could be used as an effective chelating agent for cadmium because they have a more powerful chelating capacity and thus could modulate the development of severe toxic effects of cadmium in rats. In addition, these nanoparticles reduce the substantial risks associated with CaNa2EDTA macroparticles therapy.