Biochemical and Pathomorphological Study of Potassium Dichromate-induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rat

An experiment was conducted to study biochemical and pathomorphological alterations induced by potassium dichromate toxicity. Forty colony bred Albino Wistar strain rats of both sexes, divided uniformly into four equal groups Group A, Group B, Group C, and Group D. Each Group contains five male and five female. Group A rats received only deionised water and served as control. Group B (low dose), Group C (mid dose) and Group D (high dose) rats were given potassium dichromate orally by gavage for 28 days at the rate of 0.625 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.), 1.25 mg/kg b.wt. and 2.5 mg/kg b.wt. respectively. A dose dependant significant rise in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen was observed in treatment group, whereas, a significant decrease in total protein and albumin was observed in treatment group. Histopathological sections of kidney, liver, lung and testes revealed varying degrees of congestion, haemorrhage, degeneration and necrosis in rats of different treatment groups. The present study indicates nephric and hepatic toxicity in albino wistar rats due to potassium dichromate toxicity