Morphologic Alteration and Blood Vessel Increase By Heavy Metals in Mouse

Heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury are a highly toxic metal that affects a variety of cellular events, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and survival in animals as well as in human. The exposed heavy metals significantly affected the development and health in pubertal period. However, it is not clear how the toxicity of heavy metals in pubertal affects comparing in adults. To determine the effects of heavy metals on pubertal and adults, heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury were exposed to in pubertal and adults mice for 48 and 72h. Results showed that mice exposed to heavy metals for several hours induced overall tissue and organ damage. Especially, blood vessels of the most organ were more increased in adult mice compared to pubertal mice. And for morphologic alteration, secretary organs such as salivary gland and kidney were affected the most. Taken together, exposing to heavy metal in mice altered the blood vessels. In addition, the adverse effects of cadmium and mercury were more severe in adult mouse than puberty mouse. Further study is needed to focus on endothelial cells for more precise its mechanism.