• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1253-1259
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on change of bone tissue in long-term cadmium treated rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three cadmium treated groups. Cadmium groups were classified to catechin free diet group (Cd-0C group), 0.25% catechin diet group (Cd-0.25C group) and 0.5% catechin diet group (Cd-0.5C group) according to the levels of catechin supplement. Animals were raised for 20 weeks. Cadmium were supplied as drinking water of 50 ppm Cd$^{2+}$. Effects of catechin were analyzed on changes of bony tissue in long-term cadmium treated rats by determining the accumulated cadmium in bone and bone mineral density and micro- photographs of bony tissue. The cadmium accumulation of tibia and femur were higher in Cd-treated groups than in normal group, but they was lowered by catechin supplementation. The bone mineral density (BMD) of tibia and femur in Cd-0C group was significantly lower than in normal group, but it of catechin supplemetation group was similar to normal group. Microphological changers were appeared under a light microscope and an electro microscope reveal no structural changes in bony spicules, marrow cell distribution and cellular morphology in all groups. The bone weight and length tend to decrease in Cd-0C groups. Catechin supplementation in long-term cadmium treated rats depressed the cadmium accumulation in bony tissue that led to improve the bone mineral density in tibia and femur.r.