Experimental Pathologic Studies On Copper and Zinc Toxicosis In Albino Rats

One hundred and twenty mature male albino rats were used in ourwork. These rats were divided into 5 groups each consisted of 24 rats.Group 1 given zinc oxide, in a dose of 240 mg/kg b.w three times per week.Group 2 given zinc sulphate in a dose of90 mg/kg b.w daily. Group 3 givencopper sulphate in a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w daily. Group 4 given copperoxychloride in a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w daily. The fifth group kept as acontrol. All the materials used in this experiment dissolved in tap water andfreshly prepared. The control group received tap water only.Eight rats from each group were sacrificed after 1,2 and 3 months postadministration in addition to the control one. Clinical signs and thepathological findings in the different internal organs were recorded. Bloodwas collected for the haematological investigation.The microscopical lesions in liver of rats received zinc salt (oxide orsulphate) within the different periods of the experiment includeddegenerative changes or coagulative necrosis of the hepatic cells.Hemorrhages, lymphocytic infiltration, fibrosis in the portal areas,telangiectiasis and proliferation the bile ductules were also seen.The histopathological changes in the kidneys of rats sacrificed after 1,2 and 3 months were congestion of the glomerular tufts, hyaline casts in thelumina of some urinefferons tubules, degenerative changes of the epithelialcell lining of the urinefferons tubules and interstitial fibroblastic andmononuclear cell infiltration in the renal medulla. Regenerative processes