Subacute toxicity of uranyl acetate in Swiss-Albino mice

Subacute effects of uranyl acetate were investigated in laboratory mice (Mus musculus, Swiss-Albino). Uranyl acetate was administrated to mice during a period of 5 days with dietary consumption ad libitum. Effects of uranyl acetate on food and water consumption, body weight changes; plasma urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine concentrations and activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were assayed by time-course experiment. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activities were also determined in liver tissues on day 5. Distribution of radioactivity in liver, kidney and brain was detected by scintillation spectrometry. The results indicated that uranyl acetate was accumulated in examined tissues, with highest accumulation being in brain. Some of the biochemical biomarkers (BUN, creatinine, ALP) were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the exposure group compared to control animals. Also, BUN and/or creatinine levels and/or ALT and AST activities significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05) with UA exposure on day 3 and/or day 5 compared with results of day 1.