Cadmium and zinc induced nuclear changes in the liver and kidney of rats

When administered to animals cadmium is known to accumulate in the liver and kidney causing indentifiable toxicity. However, its binding with cell sap and nucleus and effects on their constituents are poorly known. Since nuclear changes reflect some of the metabolic disturbances and are of value in diagnosis, an attempt has been made to analyse their morphology and chemistry in the liver and kidney of rat after individual and combined treatment with Cd and Zn. Present observations clearly show that cadmium inhibits DNA synthesis by blocking the formation of the enzyme thymidine triphosphate which is prerequisite for DNA synthesis. Zinc exerted a stimulatory effect on DNA and RNA both by increasing the activity of thymidine kinase. Their combined effects were found to be less injurious to the cell. Though these changes could be a secondary or generalized response of nuclei to altered physiological conditions, specific reasons for these changes have been discussed.