Biochemical, haematological and histopathological study in relation to time-related cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

In the present investigation sub-chronic hepatic necrosis was induced by ca dmium chloride and was examined biochemically, haematologically and histopa thologically in order to study the time-dependent effect and correlation am ong the parameters. Male balb/c mice were injected with cadmium chloride (2 .5 mg/kg bw s.c.) for each other day and, sacrificed on the 7th day, 14th d ay and 21th day post exposure. Body weight and relative liver weight did no t show alteration at any of the time point following the treatment but the tissue cadmium level showed progressive significant increment values with t he advancement of time exposure. Most of the biochemical parameters (total protein, DNA, RNA, cytochrome P450 cotents, alkaline phosphatase and UDP gl ucuronyl transferase activities), haematological parameters (total red bloo d cells, total white blood cell, differential white blood cell counts, haem oglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transam inase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, plasma protein) indicated eithe r no or less on the alterations/7th day following cadmium exposure. Both th e light and transmission electron microscopy, on the other hand, indicated the fact that a minimum of 21 day-exposure was needed to alter the cellular architecture. So, a certain amount of cadmium load might be required to ad versely affect the cellular architecture preceeded by biochemical and haema tological alterations. In this connection, in the present study a possible mechanism of cadmium-induced hepatoxicity was discussed.