Combined nephrotoxicity of methylmercury, lead, and cadmium in Pekin ducks: metallothionein, metal interactions, and histopathology.

This report describes the metallothionein (MT) levels and accumulation of mercury, lead, and cadmium, as well as their interaction with tissue zinc, copper, and iron, and the histopathological changes in kidneys of ducks exposed to methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), lead acetate (PbAc), and cadmium chloride (CdCl2), singly or in combination for 13 wk. Forty-eight female Pekin ducks, divided into 8 groups of 6 birds each, were fed diets containing no added metals (control), 8 mg MeHgCl/kg feed, 80 mg PbAc/kg feed, 80 mg CdCl2/kg feed, 8 mg MeHgCl + 80 mg PbAc/kg feed, 8 mg MeHgCl + 80 mg CdCL2/kg feed, 80 mg PbAc + 80 mg CdCl2/kg feed, and 8 mg MeHgCl + 80 mg PbAc + 80 mg CdCL2/kg feed. Cadmium (Cd) when administered alone or in combination caused a 60-fold increase in kidney MT levels, while methylmercury (MeHg) or lead (Pb) administration caused a threefold increase in kidney MT levels. No significant changes in kidney MT levels were observed when metals were administered concurrently when compared with single-treatment groups. Residue analysis revealed accumulation of administered metals in kidney tissue. However, lead administration resulted in accumulation of small amounts of this element in kidney tissue. Simultaneous administration of MeHgCl and PbAc significantly increased the accumulation of lead in kidney when compared with PbAc-treated group. Cadmium when administered alone or in combination caused an increase in the levels of zinc and copper in kidney. Administration of MeHgCl or PbAc either alone or in combination caused increased iron levels in kidney, while cadmium administration either alone or in combination caused decreased iron levels. Administration of cadmium either alone or in combination caused degenerative changes in kidney proximal tubules. The severity of degenerative lesions increased when cadmium was simultaneously administered with other metals. These results indicate that combined administration of MeHg, Pb, and Cd has no significant effect on kidney MT levels or on essential elements in kidney tissue when compared with single metal groups. However, there appears to be an increase in the severity of histopathologic changes.