Mercury-induced alterations in rat kidneys and testes in vivo

Abstract

In this study effects of mercury administration on the kidney and testicular structure of adult rats were evaluated. Rats received mercury (HgCl₂) in single intraperitoneal dose 20 mg HgCl₂ (group A), 10 mg HgCl₂ (group B) and 5 mg HgCl₂ (group C) per kilogram of body weight and were killed after 48 hours following mercury administration. After the preparation of histological samples the results were compared with control group (K). In kidney decreased diameters of glomeruli and renal corpuscles, damaged tubules with affected quality of tubular cells and infiltration of interstitium were detected. Quantitative analysis demonstrated increased relative volume of tubules and renal corpuscles. Also the number of nuclei and glomeruli was increased in all experimental groups. The diameter of glomeruli and renal corpuscles was decreased. In testis undulation of basal membrane, dilatation of blood vessels in interstitium and occurrence of empty spaces in germinal epithelium were observed. Decreased relative volume of germinal epithelium, increased relative volume of interstitium and increased apoptosis occurrence suggest damaged interstitium and revealed occurrence of edemas. The relative volume of seminiferous tubules showed higher luminization. The number of nuclei was decreased in all experimental groups what is in positive relation with occurrence of empty spaces. Also other evaluated criteria demonstrated significant differences between control group and experimental groups. This study reports a negative effect of mercury on the structure and function of kidney and testes.

Keywords:

• Mercury
• kidney
• testes
• rats

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank to Mrs. Tatiana Simova and Dr. Alexander Sladecka for excellent technical assistance, MSc. Miroslava Turnova for data collection and evaluation. This study was supported by research grants from the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic—VEGA 1/2417/05 and project of bilateral cooperation (Slovak Republic–Hungary) 02 SK-4/2004.

Notes

*P < 0.05 (K–C).

*¹ P < 0.05 (K–A, K–B, K–C).

*² P < 0.05 (K–A, K–B, K–C).

*³ P < 0.05 (K–A).

*⁴ P < 0.05 (K–A, K–B).

*¹ P < 0.05 (K-B, K-C).

*² P < 0.05 (K-B, K-C).

*¹ P < 0.05 (K–B).

*² P < 0.05 (K–C).

*³ P < 0.05 (K–B).