Chromium Dose Dependent Kidney Changes Morphological, Histological and Morphometrical Parameters
Downloads
Background: Chromium is a common toxic heavy metal used in many industries and has been shown to have toxic effects in many organs; the kidneys have a nephrotoxic effect, largely due to oxidative effects and cell damage. Aims: The current study aims to examine the gross anatomical, morphometric and histopathological changes in the renal tissue after exposure to chromium, in varying doses. Methods: control group and groups exposed to various doses of chromium. Gross, morphometric (length, width, weight) and histopathological changes were analysed. Result: gross changes were observed in treated groups such as; lighter kidney colour with mottling and thinning cortex. There was no significant Morphometric alteration in kidney length, kidney width was increased, and kidney weight was decreased in a dose dependent manner. Histopathologically exposed groups revealed expansion of the urinary space, glomerulus and tuft size and degeneration in the proximal convoluted tubule. Conclusion: In conclusion chromium induces significant dose-dependent renal damage at both structural and cellular levels. The findings highlight the nephrotoxic potential of chromium.
[1] J. Surendradoss, A. Varghese, and S. Deb, “Drug metabolism: detoxification and xenobiotic biotransformation,” in Biologically Active Small Molecules. Apple Academic Press, 2023, pp. 287–332.
[2] M. S. Asghar, A. Denic, and A. D. Rule, “Morphometric analysis of chronicity on kidney biopsy: A useful prognostic exercise,” Clinical Kidney Journal, vol. 17, no. 2, 2024.
[3] M. Morvaridzadeh et al., “The effect of chromium intake on oxidative stress parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, vol. 69, p. 126879, 2022.
[4] M. A. Al-Kahtani, A. M. Abdel-Moneim, O. M. Elmenshawy, and M. A. El-Kersh, “Hemin attenuates cisplatin-induced acute renal injury in male rats,” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2014, no. 1, p. 476430, 2014.
[5] D. Bagchi, S. J. Stohs, B. W. Downs, M. Bagchi, and H. G. Preuss, “Cytotoxicity and oxidative mechanisms of different forms of chromium,” Toxicology, vol. 180, no. 1, pp. 5–22, 2002.
[6] D. A. Ferenbach and J. V. Bonventre, “Mechanisms of maladaptive repair after AKI leading to accelerated kidney ageing and CKD,” Nature Reviews Nephrology, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 264–276, 2015.
[7] Z. Goodarzi, E. Karami, and M. Ahmadizadeh, “Simvastatin attenuates chromium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats,” Journal of Nephropathology, vol. 6, pp. 5–9, 2017.
[8] M. Haider et al., “The role of chromium supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors: A comprehensive review of putative molecular mechanisms,” Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 9, 2023.
[9] J. E. Hall and M. E. Hall, Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2020.
[10] M. A. Hasan, H. A. A. R. Abed, and H. H. Hussein, “Investigation of potassium dichromate nephrotoxicity in association with vitamin C in rats,” REDVET - Revista Electrónica de Veterinaria, vol. 23, no. 3, 2022.
[11] M. Jaishankar, T. Tseten, N. Anbalagan, B. B. Mathew, and K. N. Beeregowda, “Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals,” Interdisciplinary Toxicology, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 60–72, 2014.
[12] L. C. U. Junqueira and J. Carneiro, Basic Histology: Text and Atlas. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
[13] V. Kumar, A. K. Abbas, J. C. Aster, and A. T. Deyrup, Robbins & Kumar Basic Pathology. Elsevier, 2022.
[14] L. Mescher, Junqueira’s Basic Histology: Text and Atlas, 2013.
[15] D. J. McIver, A. M. Grizales, J. S. Brownstein, and A. B. Goldfine, “Risk of type 2 diabetes is lower in US adults taking chromium-containing supplements,” The Journal of Nutrition, vol. 145, no. 12, pp. 2675–2682, 2015.
[16] S. K. Nigam et al., “The organic anion transporter (OAT) family: A systems biology perspective,” Physiological Reviews, vol. 95, no. 1, pp. 83–123, 2015.
[17] B. V. Nirmala, M. P. Sultana, and M. Deena, “Morphometric study of kidney and histopathogenesis of renal tumor,” International Journal of Medicine & Public Health, vol. 15, no. 2, 2025.
[18] Ray and J. S. Jankar, “A comparative study of chromium: therapeutic uses and toxicological effects on human health,” Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 239–245, 2022.
[19] H. C. Santos, Fundamentos de Citologia e Histologia. IESDE Brasil.
[20] N. Soudani et al., “Nephrotoxicity induced by chromium (VI) in adult rats and their progeny,” Human & Experimental Toxicology, vol. 30, no. 9, pp. 1233–1245, 2011.
[21] S. J. Stohs and D. Bagchi, “Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions,” Free Radical Biology and Medicine, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 321–336, 1995.
[22] K. S. Suvarna, C. Layton, and J. D. Bancroft, Bancroft's Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. Elsevier, 2018.
[23] Y. Wang et al., “T-2 toxin nephrotoxicity: toxic effects, mechanisms, mitigations, and future perspectives,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 73, no. 5, pp. 2732–2744, 2025.
[24] Zhang Y, et al. Chromium exposure induces kidney damage through oxidative stress and inflammation. Environmental Toxicology, 26(2): 149–156. 2025.
