[Low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substances in hepatic and nephric tissues of chromium-exposed rats]

Male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with potassium dichromate(2.55 mg Cr6+ per kg body weight) for 7 days, and were observed continuously for 7 days after stopping Cr injection. The results were that concentrations of chromium-binding substances (HMW-Cr, LMW-Cr, and MMW-Cr) increased significantly with the extension of Cr injection time; MMW-Cr was not found in the control group. MMW-Cr may be a valuable indicator in diagnosing chromium toxication. It was efficient to use Sephadex G-50 column chromatography and ultra-violet absorption spectrometry-atomic absorption spectrophotometry in isolation, and then it was followed by quantitative analysis of chromium-binding substances.