Histomorphological Study of Effects of Oral Administration of Cadmium Nitrate on Heart of Adult Wistar Rats

Cadmium nitrate occurs as a colorless solid. It is soluble in dilute acids and ethanol, acetone, water, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. This study examined the effects of Oral Administration of cadmium nitrate on histomorphology of the heart of adult wistar rats. Twenty (n=20) adult wistar rats of both sexes randomly divided into four groups (A-D) of five (n=5) rats each; Rats in group A which served as control were given 10 ml/kg/day of distilled water for 21 days. Rats in group B, C, and D (cadmium nitrate CdN group) were given 150 mg/kg/bw of CdN, 225 mg/kg/bw of CdN and 300 mg/kg/bw of CdN administered orally through an orogastric cannula into the stomach via the esophagus, once a day, for twenty one consecutive days. The heart of each rat was harvested and weighed before fixed in 10% formal saline for histological procedures. Results revealed normal histological architecture in control while the experimental rats showed inflammations, distortions, congestions, and degenerative changes in myocardium tissue. The heart weight significantly increased in treated group while compared with the control group. Observed effects may therefore cause cardiovascular disorder.