CADMIUM-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN 3 DIFFERENT RAT STRAINS

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic element able to induce acute liver inju ry in rats after intraperitoneal administration. The dose-dependent Cd -induced hepatotoxicity was examined in three different rat strains. A difference in hepatotoxicity was observed in the three rat strains, d etermined by the examination of serum enzymes' activities and other bi ochemical parameters, all markedly altered after Cd intoxication. The histological findings came to confirm the variations of the above-ment ioned parameters. It is concluded that the administration of this toxi c agent caused different toxicity in the three rat strains examined, i ndicating a more intense damage in Wistar than in Quinster and Lewis r ats.