Potassium supplementation prevents cadmium-induced hypertension and promotes adaptive lymphocytosis in cadmium-treated rats

Objective: Potassium is essential for lymphocyte activation and function, immune response, and red blood cell health. It has been shown to mitigate effects of hypertension, possibly via immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative mechanisms. We evaluated the effects of potassium supplementation (KS) on hematological indices in cadmium (Cd)-treated Sprague-Dawley rats. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that KS prevents negative Cd effects on hematological indices. Method: Four cohorts of normal control and potassium-supplemented male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=10 each) were fed water, potassium chloride (KCl, 0.75%), or KCl with 2.5 or 5 mg/kg b.w. cadmium chloride (Cd). Rats received Cd via gavage thrice-weekly for eight weeks and KCl ad libitum. Blood pressures (BPs) were measured non-invasively from rat tails twice-weekly using a CODA machine and hematological indices via the Cell-Dyn Emerald Hematology Analyzer. Data: Data were reported as mean ± SEM and statistically analyzed via One-Way Analysis of Variance. Bonferroni or Games-Howell post hoc test was used for multiple comparisons. Summary of Results: KS with and without Cd significantly (p< 0.01) increased flow rates. KS with 2.5 mg/kg b.w. Cd also significantly (p< 0.001) elevated HR and KS with 5 mg/kg b.w. Cd resulted in significantly (p< 0.05) elevated SBP and lymphocyte count. KS did not affect hematological indices in normotensive rats but prevented hypertension when co-administered with Cd. Mean arterial and pulse pressures, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts, red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, monocyte and granulocyte counts and percentages, lymphocyte percentage, and monocyte-, granulocyte-, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios were unaffected by KS. Conclusions: The results indicate that KS prevented Cd-induced hypertension and induced lymphocytosis, supporting immune response, preserving RBC health, and possibly protecting against anemia. Anisocytosis (high RDW - indicative of wide variability in RBC sizes), microcytosis (reduced MCV), and hypochromicity (reduced MCH) previously induced by 5 mg/kg b.w. Cd were prevented by KS. This indicates that KS can potentially prevent, reverse, or mitigate inflammation and iron-deficiency anemia. The study underscores the importance of potassium in RBC health and activating lymphocytes which mediate immune responses. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.