Responses to cadmium intoxication in the liver of the wall lizard Podarcis sicula.
This study examined the cytological and molecular effects of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in the liver of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula. Cadmium was administered in single dose, by diet, to induce a concentration comparable with that measured in animals living in contaminated sites. For comparison, cadmium was also administered in multiple doses by food (chronic) or in a single dose intraperitoneally (i.p.); the effects were followed at regular time intervals up to 30 days post treatments. Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis demonstrated cadmium ion uptake and accumulation in the parenchyma with an estimated half-life of approximately 8 days. Cytological analyses revealed that the metal induced oedema, activated metallothionein expression in Kupffer cells and extracellular matrix production in fat storing cells. It also caused swelling and alteration in lipid and sugar metabolism in hepatocytes. In conclusion, in the wall lizard cadmium is toxic to the liver even at very low concentrations, the response is not strictly dose and time dependent and almost no recovery occurs in short (30 days) time periods.
Department of Biological Sciences, Evolutionary and Comparative Unit, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy.
Palma
P
Simoniello
Silvana
S
Filosa
Marilisa
M
Riggio
Rosaria
R
Scudiero
Stefania
S
Tammaro
Francesca
F
Trinchella
Chiara M
CM
Motta
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002104:Cadmium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008116:Lizards / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein