Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the subchronic toxic effect of cadmium chloride administered orally on alanine aminotransfearase (ALT), aspartate aminotransfearase (AST) activity and certain tissues in adult male rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 animals lgroup). The first and second groups were administered cadmium chloride (30 and 60 mg/kg respectively). The third group was given distilled water and served as a control. All groups were treated daily by gavage needle for a period of eight weeks. The results demonstrated that cadmium chloride(30 and 60 mg/kg) caused a significant increase in alanine aminotransfearase activity in treated animals,
while a significant increase in aspartate aminotransfearase activity was reported only in animals administered cadmium chloride at a dose of 60 mg/kg.
Histologically, cadmium-treated groups showed lesions in liver and kidney. These lesions were more severe in animals treated with 60 mg cadmium chloride than those treated with 30 mg cadmium chloride.