• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.725-732
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on renal dysfunction and blood presure change in chronic cadmium poisoned rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium poisoned groups. Cadmium groups were classified to catechin free diet(Cd-0C group) 0.25% catechin diet(Cd-0.25C group) and 0.5% catechin diet(Cd-0.5C group) according to the levels of catechin supplement. Animals were raids for 20weeks. Cadmium were supplied as drinking water of 50ppm Cd2+ Morphological changes shown through a light microscope and an electro-microscope revealed the mitochondria and tubule epithelial cell edema in Cd -0C group but they were alleviated in catechin supplementation. The urinary $\beta$2-microglobulin that measured to observe the glomerular injury were higher in Cd-poisoned groups than in normal group but they was lowered by catechin supplementation. Glomerular filtration ratios(GFR) in Cd-poisoned groups were significantly lower than in normal group but that of catechin supplementation group was similar to normal group. This suggested that catechin protected the kidney from the functional damage. Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) activity and blood pressure(BP) in Cd-poisoned groups were significantly higher than in normal group. Heart rate was tended to increase in Cd-poisoned groups. The results indicate that green tea catechin supplementation on chronic cadmium-poisoned rats normalized the renal dysfunction and blood pressure system.