Effect of oral administeration of molybdenum in rats

ABSTRACT

At a trial for the assessment of different changes may occur in man by chronic administration of molybdenum, this study was carried to evaluate the toxic effect of long administration of molybdenum on rat's liver, kidney, thyroid gland and testis. The liver enzymatic activities, alkaline phosphatase[ALP], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] were determined in the serum. The toxic effect on kidney was studied through determination of urea, creatinine and uric acid. Also this work evaluated the toxic effect of molybdenum on metabolism and growth by estimation of plasma level of thyroid hormones[T3, T4] and TSH of the pituitary gland. On the other hand the toxic effect was estimated on testis by estimation of testosterone hormone to evaluate its effect on the fertility. The used rats were divided into two groups. The first group[10 rats] served as control were administered orally 1 mI of 0.9%Nacl/day, while the other group [30 rats] were administered orally ammonium molybdate [50 mg/kg/day] for 12 weeks. The group administered ammonium molybdate showed a haematological changes in the form of significant reduction in HB concentration, haematocrit value and erythrocytic count [P<0.01]. Also a significant increase in both total and differential leucocytic count was observed compared to control group. The biochemical study showed a significant elevation in serum level of liver enzymes AST, ALT [P<0.01] and AP [P<0.001] as well as bilirubin [P<0.01]. The kidney function tests showed a significant. increase of blood urea [P<0.0005], serum creatinine [P<0.05] and serum uric acid [P<0.001]. The serum level of thyroid hormones[T3 and T4] and TSH level showed a significant increase [P<0.01], while Testosterone level was significantly decreased [P<0.001] compaired to the control one. The histological examination of the liver revealed hepatic cell degeneration and polymorph-nuclear leucocytic infiltration and increase the collagen fibers around the portal tract .The kidney showed glomerular, tubular degeneration and necrosis. While the Testis showed testicular cell degeneration of Leydig cells and degeneration of basement membrane of seminiferous tubules. It was concluded that prolonged administration of ammoniurn molybdate caused growth retardation, depression action, male infertility, and degenerative changes of kidney, liver and testis