Hepatotoxic effect of metallic pollutants on enzyme histochemical activities of yellow-legged gull Larus Cachinnans Michahellis liver

We studied the hepatotoxic effect of heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, copper ) on Mg2+-ATPase, NADH diaphorase, succinic dehydrogenase and acid phosphat ase of yellow-legged gull liver, using enzyme histochemical methods. The ly sosomal enzyme activity of acid phosphatase was increased in all cases. How ever, the other enzyme activities appeared to be insensitive to the differe nt metallic pollutants and to their respective levels, in contrast with lit erature experimental data showing plasma membrane and mitochondrial alterat ions. This controversy could be explained by the differences in dietary con ditions and metal overloads. The molecular basis of the toxicities of metal lic pollutants is discussed.