Some toxic effects of molybdenum in adult male albino rats

ABSTRACT

Ammonium molybdate is an essential trace element in plants, animals and humans, as it is present as a cofactor for some enzymes; also, it is an environmental pollutant. Thirty adult male albino rats were used to investigate the adverse effects of ammonium molybdate on the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs of adult male albino rats. Therty adult male rats were equally divided into 3 groups. The rats of the 1[st] group were left without treatment and used as a negative control group for measuring the basic parameters. The rats of the 2[nd] group were daily intragastrically administered 2 ml normal saline [vehicle of molybdenum] for each rat for 30 days and were used as a positive control group. The rats of the 3rd group were daily intragastrically administered ammonium molybdate in a dose of 136 mg /kg body weight in 2 ml of normal saline [1/5 of the LD50] for each rat for 30 days. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus of each anethetized rat in all groups for measuring levels of liver enzymes [ALT, AST, Aikaline phosphatase], total bilirubin, urea and createnine; then the rats were sacrificed, and specimens from the livers kidneys, spleens and lungs of all rats were collected for histopathological examination. The levels of liver enzymes, bilirubin, urea and createnine of the rats of the 3[rd] group [ammonium molybdate group] were statistically significantly elevated compared to those of the negative control group [P <0.001]. Histopathological examination of the rats of the 3rd group showed, moderate liver damage consisting of scattered necrotic areas, inflammatory infiltrates and congested central vein, In the Kidneys, there were degeneration of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules appeared as cloudy swelling and congestion. There were also cellular infiltrates. Histopathological examination of the spleen showed reactive follicular hyperplasia with areas of necrosis and congestion reflecting congested splenomegally. The lungs revealed diffuse haemorrhage and mononuclear inflammatory cellular infiltration in the interstitial tissue with congested dilated vessels. It can be concluded that ammonium molybdate could produce toxic effects on the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs of adult male albino rats