Alterations in hepatocytes after manipulation of the diet: Copper,zinc and cadmium interactions

Morphometric analyses of liver parenchymal cells were performed on male albino rats fed a semipurified diet supplemented with two levels of copper and zinc. These metals were administered in demineralized drinking water to four groups of animals at two levels. (1) 0.25 μgm Cu/ml, 2.5 μgm Zn/ml, and (2) 1.0 μgm Cu/ml, 10 μgm Zn/ml. Cadmium, also administered in the drinking water daily to rats at 17.2 μgm cadmium/ml, was given to one group of animals on each of the two semipurified diets. Two groups of rats were given laboratory chow plus 17.2 μgm Cd/ml for 71 days and for 280 days. Volume densities of all organelles diminished significantly when levels of copper and zinc were lowest. Surface densities of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum were significantly decreased. Higher levels of copper and zinc produced morphologic and morphometric parameters which fell just below those obtained for rats fed chow. Glycogen accumulation was highest when the levels of metal were low. Lipid inclusions were more frequent with semipurified diets than with chow. Hepatocytes from rats fed the semipurified diet with low copper and zinc plus cadmium demonstrated a significant increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum compared to animals fed the semipurified diet alone. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum changed little when cadmium was given to rats receiving adequate copper and zinc. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum increased when diets included chow and cadmium whereas rough endoplasmic reticulum decreased. Cup-shaped and elongated mitochondria with longitudinal cristae appeared in hepatocytes from animals fed chow with cadmium. These were not seen with semipurified diets and cadmium.