Abstract

The present study has been carried out to investigate the effect of inorganic mercury (mercuric chloride - HgCl₂) exposure on biochemical parameters in adult male rats. 48 rats whose average body weight was about 290 g were included in the experiment. HgCl₂, dissolved in distilled water, was administered per os at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg of body weight daily during 15, 30, 45 or 60 days. Rats receiving distilled water were considered as controls. At the end of each treatment period, the corresponding group of animals (both control and intoxicated groups) was euthanized in order to measure plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, total proteins and urea concentrations, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and hepatic glutathione (GSH) level. Our results showed a significant disturbance of ALP activity and uremia throughout the experiment. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol and total proteins levels were significantly deteriorated following HgCl₂exposure by day 30. HgCl₂ also induced a hypoglycemia at days 45 and 60. Hepatic GSH content decreased significantly only at day 45 compared to controls. Our study suggests that HgCl₂ is mainly a nephrogenic pollutant and disturbs simultaneously the plasma biochemical profile and the hepatic GSH-related detoxifying system.

Key words: Mercuric chloride, biochemical profile, oxidative stress, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, rat.