The preventive effect of prednisolone on the adrenal toxicity of cadmium

The effects of a single dose of 3.3 mg/kg body weight i.p. or of a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg per os of cadmium and prednisolone on the adrenal weight and the thickness of the adrenal cortex were investigated in female mice. A significant increase was detected in the mean weight of the adrenals and the thickness of the adrenal cortex was signficantly higher than the control value on days 1–3 following cadmium treatment. A. dramatic decrease was observed in both adrenal weight and adrenal cortex thickness on day 4 following cadmium administration. No significant change occurred in the adrenals when prednisolone was given orally to mice following cadmium administration. This observation indicates a protective action of prednisolone on cadmium-induced adrenal toxicity.