Nickel Toxicity in Young Growing Mice

Abstract

The feeding of 1,600 ppm nickel to young growing mice resulted in growth reduction in both males and females. Female mice, in addition, showed a reduction in body weight gains when fed 1,100 ppm nickel. Nickel feeding did not exert a significant effect on apparent digestion coefficients for energy, fat and protein values. No changes in bone citrate values or in calcium and phosphorus utilization were observed. Liver enzyme activities for cytochrome oxidase and isocitric dehydrogenase were significantly decreased in activity. The activity of malic dehydrogenase in kidney tissue was also significantly reduced. There was decreased activity in heart cytochrome oxidase and malic dehydrogenase. All other tissues tested for cytochrome oxidase, malic, isocitric and succinic dehydrogenase were unaffected. There was no significant effect of nickel ingestion on body weights of adult mice or on litter size but the number of pups weaned was reduced by 1,600 ppm of dietary nickel. Copyright © 1969. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1969 by American Society of Animal Science