Repeated dose oral toxicity of inorganic mercury in wistar rats: biochemical and morphological alterations

Abstract

Aim: The study was conducted to find out the possible toxic effect of mercuric chloride (HgCl2 ) at the histological, biochemical, and haematological levels in the wistar rats for 28 days. Materials and Methods: The biochemical and hematological alteration were estimated in four groups of rat (each group contain ten animals), which were treated with 0 (control), 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg body weight of HgCl2 through oral gavage. At the end of study all rats were sacrificed and subjected for histopathology. Result: A significantly (P < 0.05) higher level of serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), gamma Glutamyle Transferase, and creatinine were recorded in treatment groups, while the level of alkaline phosphtase (ALP) was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. The toxic effect on hematoclogical parameter was characterized by significant decrease in hemoglobin, packed cell volume, total erythrocytes count, and total leukocyte count. Gross morphological changes include congestion, severe haemorrhage, necrosis, degenerative changes in kidneys, depletion of lymphocyte in spleen, decrease in concentration of mature spermatocyte, and edema in testis. It was notable that kidney was the most affected organ. Conclusion: Mercuric chloride (HgCl ) caused dose-dependent toxic effects on blood parameters and kidney. [Vet World 2013; 6(8.000): 563-567

Combined Effects of Cd and Hg on Liver and Kidney Histology and Function in Wistar Rats

“…Mercuric chloride treatment has been shown to cause a significant increase in serum creatinine and serum urea indicating an impaired renal function. The increased blood urea and creatinine are in agreement with the results obtained by Sheikh et al [24] and Alam et al [25] in male rats treated with mercury.…”

The Hepatoprotective Effect of Gallic Acid on Mercuric Chloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rats

“…This finding indicated that HgCl 2 could cause severe oxidative stress. These results are parallel to several previous studies, which reported the significant depletion of GSH, as well as a significant decrease in the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx after HgCl 2 intoxication, corroborating the oxidative stress status (4,37,43,44).…”

“…The results of previous studies support our findings, indicating the increase in liver enzymes. According to these studies, inorganic Hg causes hepatotoxicity (4,32,36,37). All these changes on liver function tests in HgCl 2 -treated animals substantiated evidence on hepatotoxicity induced by inorganic Hg.…”

Pathogenetic Effects of Mercury Chloride in White Rats

“…Histological section of kidney in rats treated with mercury chloride (1.5mg/kgB.W) show marked atrophy of glomeruli (red arrow), also there is degeneration and destruction of epithelial cells which lying of renal convoluted tubules which showed clear dilated (blue arrow) 10H&EThe previous results show severe histopathological changes in the liver characterized by degeneration, vaculation and necrosis of hepatocyte. These result agreed with (32) who revealed that mercuric chloride caused histopathological and ultra structural lesions in the liver evidenced by periportal fatty degeneration and cell necrosis The toxic effect of mercury chloride is due to its ability to adhere or to form link with cell enzymes of the respiratory chain and proteins .Also our result show marked atrophy of glomeruli, degeneration of epithelial layer of renal tubules with cast formation and these result agreed with(33) who reported that The interaction of mercury with protein sulfhydryl groups is thought to play an important role in nephrotoxicity induced by mercury at cellular analysis.…”