Scanning electron microscopic and enzyme histochemical observations on the cadmium-affected gastrointestinal villi of mice.
Orally administered cadmium has been known to cause diarrhea and flatulence of the gastrointestinal tract. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that the absorptive cells on the tip of the intestinal villi were affected to some extent by administration of 2.5 microgram CdSO4/10 g of body weight (b. w.). Administration of higher doses of CdSO4 made the microvilli of the absorptive cells sparse and caused degeneration of the cells. Strong enzymic activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, magnesium-dependent ATPase, and sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase were recognized at the microvilli of the absorptive cells of the villi in the control mice. The enzymic activities of magnesium-dependent ATPase and sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase became weak with increasing dosages of CdSO4. The microvilli of the absorptive cells showed a strong alkaline phosphatase activity at a dose less than 25 microgram CdSO4/10 g of b. w., while some inhibitory effects could be recognized with 50 microgram/10 g of b. w. After administration of 2.5 microgram CdSO4/10 g of b. w., no acid phosphatase reaction products were found only at the absorptive cells located on the tip of the villi. Administration of a large quantity more than 5 microgram/10 g of b. w. strongly affected the acid phosphatase activity. It may be possible that the digestive functions are impaired by low cadmium administration.
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002104:Cadmium; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases