SUBACUTE TOXICITY OF URANYL ACETATE IN SWISS-ALBINO MICE

Subacute effects of uranyl acetate were investigated in laboratory mic e (Mus musculus, Swiss-Albino). Uranyl acetate was administrated to mi ce during a period of 5 days with dietary consumption ad libitum. Effe cts of uranyl acetate on food and water consumption, body weight chang es; plasma urea nitrogen (:BUN), creatinine concentrations and activit ies of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) an d alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were assayed by time-course experimen t. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activities were also determined in liver tissues on day 5. Distribution of radioactivi ty in liver, kidney and brain was detected by scintillation spectromet ry. The results indicated that uranyl acetate was accumulated in exami ned tissues, with highest accumulation being in brain. Some of the bio chemical biomarkers (BUN, creatinine, ALP) were significantly increase d (P < 0.05) in the exposure group compared to control animals. Also, BUN and/or creatinine levels and/or ALT and AST activities significant ly increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) with UA exposure on day 3 and/or d ay 5 compared with results of day 1. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.