Individual study of chromium in the stainless steel implants degradation: An experimental study in mice

To study the accumulation and the histological effects in mice organs cause d by hexavalent chromium, one of the corrosion products released from AISI 316L stainless steel implants, mice groups were subcutaneously injected wit h a metallic solution of chromium during a certain period of time. Similar injections were made with HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution) in other gro ups to be used as controls. The levels of chromium found in the liver, kidn ey and spleen of the control and the treated animals were obtained by atomi c absorption spectrometry (AAS) and were compared to those obtained by AdSV (adsorptive stripping voltammetry) to test the accuracy of the results. Du ring the experimental period, the liver and spleen showed a progressive and significant accumulation of chromium whereas in the kidney the significant accumulation found after the first week practically remained unchanged dur ing the four weeks. Apparently, the histological analysis of these tissues did not evidence any relevant morphological alteration induced by the chrom ium accumulations during the four weeks of treatment.