Ultrustructural and enzymatic studies of rat liver after acute cadmium exposure

The aim of the study was to examine morphological and enzymatic changes in the rat liver following single i.v. administration of CdCl2 (5 and 10 mumol/kg b.w.). In the rats given 5 and 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w., a correlation was found between the dose and the intensity of changes in the liver both in pathomorphological, ultrastructural and enzymatic analyses. Pathomorphological and ultrastructural investigations showed that a single dose of 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. caused vacuolar degeneration, and fatty degeneration in single hepatocytes. Structural changes were accompanied by an increase in the activity of indicatory enzymes of the liver-AST and ALT. At the same time, stimulation and activation of B-K cells were observed. However, a single 5 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. dose induced only blurring of cell structure in single hepatocytes within the peripheral zone of the lobules, which looked as if they had been filled with pinkish "mush".