Heavy metals and the mammalian thymus: in vivo and in vitro investigations.
This experiment was performed to investigate changes in the thymus of Wistar-strain male rats administered cadmium chloride (CdCl2), mercuric chloride (HgCl2), and lead chloride (PbCl2) salts. The study involved measurement of: 1) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content; 2) ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content; 3) incorporation of 3h-thymidine during in-vitro investigation; and 4) histological and morphological changes. It was shown in investigations on DNA content that administration of heavy metal salts caused an average 76% decrease in DNA content compared to the control. Moreover, in the thymus of experimental animals, an average 69% decrease in vitamin C content was recorded. In in vitro cultures, heavy metal salts decreased the incorporation of 3H-thymidine in thymic cells.
Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
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Ficek
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007854:Lead / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D002712:Chlorides; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; C029891:lead chloride; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D004247:DNA; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid