Lipids in the liver and kidney of rats, fed various heavy metals

Interference of few heavy metals, i.e. mercury, lead, molybdenum, copper, cadmium and zinc with the hepatic and renal lipids has been estimated employing histochemical and biochemical parameters. The results show that mercury and molybdenum stimulate the accumulation of lipids whereas cadmium and zinc inhibit their restoration both in the liver and kidney. Lead and copper only raised the lipid contents of the kidney. It has been suggested that mercury and molybdenum increase the input of free fatty acid causing triblyceride formation and inhibit mitochondrial phosphorylation. Partial loss of lipids after cadmium and zinc treatment has been explained by a reverse hypothesis. Inhibition of esterases has also been proposed as the reason for increased phospholipid accumulatin. However, differential effects of lead and copper on the liver and kidney suggested that a given mechanism may vary from one physiological state and pathological condition to the other.