Histological Changes in the Kidney of Norwagian Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Fed with Dietary Cadmium

Histological changes in the kidney tissues of albino rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) fed 100mg/kg body weight of cadmium sulphate incorporated as food material has been studied in vivo in an acute toxicological experiment. The behavioural pattern and physical changes in the rats were also investigated. Loss of weight and increased locomotor activity was observed. Rats were sacrificed the kidneys dissected out and dehydrated in an ethanol series. Sections of tissues were obtained using a microtome, double stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Photographs were taken using a microscope. Histological investigations of the poisoned tissues revealed progressive increase of dark stained metabolites present in the cortex, renal papillae and medulla. The nuclei of the tubular cells showed slight reductions in size and became less prominent as the period of exposure to the poison increased. The glomeruli were observed to have very dark stained appearance, which was suggested to have come about as a result of Cadmium infiltration. There was an observed reduction in the thickness of the capsule of the kidney, which calls for closer attention Discovery and Innovation Vol. 19 (2) 2007: pp. 96-101