Effects of Cadmium Chloride on Fine Structures of Renal Glomerulus and Epithelial Cells of Proximal Convoluted Tubules in Albino Rats

Cadmium Chloride가 흰쥐신사구체 및 근위요세관 상피세포의 미세구조에 미치는 영향

A single injection of cadmium chloride (3.75 mg/kg) was made into the peritoneal cavities of albino rats. The cortices of kidney were obtained from the experimental animals at 3 hr., 6 hr., 12 hr., 24 hr. and 36 hr. after administration of cadmium chloride, respectively. The specimens of each experimental animal were prefixed in 2% glutaraldehyde-4% paraformaldehyde solution for $2{\sim}4$ hours, and these specimens were post-fixed in 1% osmic acid. After fixation, the specimens were dehydrated with alcohol and acetate and embedded in Epon 812. Ultrathin sections, $600{\sim}800{\AA}$ thickness were made and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. And all the preparations were observed with Hitachi-600 transmission electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The main changes in ultrastructures of the glomeruli observed at 3 hr. after cadmium chloride administration include loss of filtration slit and fenestrae of capillary endothelium that was resulted from thickings of the basal lamina and fusion of pedicels of the podocytes. At 12 hr. after cadmium chloride administration the Bowman's capsules were mostly filled with abnormally thickened and fused pedicels. After 24 hr. however, the only recognized change was loss of fenestrae of the capillary endothelium. And the ultrastructure of the glomeruli were almost normal in 36 hr. after cadmium chloride treatment. 2. At 3 hr. after treatment with cadmium chloride, in the renal tubular cells the vesicles and vacuoles increased in number at the apical portion, of the tubular epithelial cells, the basal infoldings were reduced and the basal lamina was thickened. After 12 hr., a number of phagosomes appeared at the apical portion and the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were swollen. At 24 hr. after cadmium chloride administration irregularly shaped mitochondria were observed in the apical area, and mitochondria with swollen cristae were found at the basal portion. And after 36 hr. The ultrastructures of the epithelial cells appeared almost normal except for a moderate increase in the number of vesicles and vacuoles. Consequently it is suggested that in albino rats, cadmium chloride induces acute reversible degenerative changes in the glomeruli as well as in the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules.