Abstract:
Histological and functional changes in the adrenal glands, as one
of the major target organs for cadmium (Cd) bioaccumulation, were
investigated in female juvenile BALB/c mice. Single intraperitoneal
administration of CdCl,*5H,0 in doses of 0.1 and 1.0 mg Cd/Kg body
weight were given to two test groups, while a third group, serving as
control, was given normal saline solution. Adrenal glands from each
mouse were excised, sectioned, and examined under light microscopy.
While both Cd-treated groups had decreased zona glomerulosa width as
compared with the control group, the mice with a higher Cd dosage
demonstrated the most reduction in all the adrenocortical zone widths.
However, serum aldosterone levels did not vary among the three groups.
Thus, sublethal levels of Cd (at about 1 mg/kg body weight) can elicit
morphological changes in the murine adrenal glomerulosa without
apparently affecting hormonal secretion rates.
