Effect of Melamine in the Absence and Presence of Cyanuric Acid on Ultrastructure of Visceral Organs in Male Mice

Melamine, has been widely used in the production of amino resins and plastics. The combination of melamine and cyanuric acid was thought to be responsible for renal crystal formation and renal damage in animals. In the present work, we investigated the effect of melamine in the absence and presence of cyanuric acid on ultrastructure of multiple visceral organs in mice including kidney, liver, spleen, stomach wall and small intestine. Based on the electron microscopic examination, in comparison to control group, the administration of melamine alone with a dose at 50 mg/kg/day for 14 days caused pathological injury to liver, kidney, spleen, stomach wall and small intestine wall of mice. On the other hand, compared with that of melamine alone (50 mg/kg/day), co-administration of melamine and cyanuric acid (each at dose: 25 mg/kg/day) resulted in more severe pathological changes to the examined visceral organs. These findings suggested that melamine alone or its combination with cyanuric acid appears to be systemically toxic to mice. Moreover, toxic effects of melamine on different visceral organs of mice were further aggravated by the combination with cyanuric acid. These results might be useful in evaluating the melamine-induced pathology in animals.