Objective:

2

To study the accumulation of mercury in liver

kidney and brain of rats and its toxicity on liver and kidney after 4 weeks of administration of different doses of Zhuhong ointment

in order to provide data reference for the safe clinical use of Zhuhong ointment.

Method:

2

Forty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group

normal-dose group (1.875 mg·kg

-1

)

medium-dose group (37.5 mg·kg

-1

)

and high-dose group (75 mg·kg

-1

). After transdermal administration for consecutive 4 weeks

the mercury content in the urine

blood

liver

kidney and brain of the rats was measured. In addition

serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

serum urea nitrogen (BUN)

and serum creatinine (SCr)

urine

β

2

-miSCroglobulin (

β

2

-BMG) and urine

N

-acetyl-beta-

D

glucosidase (NAG) contents were measured

and pathological morphology changes of liver and kidney were observed.

Result:

2

Compared with the control group

the levels of blood mercury and urine mercury in Zhuhong ointment groups showed significant increases after administration for 4 weeks(

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01). The level of serum ALT was significantly elevated in the high-dose group

and serum SCr was significantly elevated in middle and high-dose groups (

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01). Biochemical index in the normal dose remained unchanged. Medium and high doses of Zhuhong ointment destroyed the structure of the hepatic lobule and the radial arrangement of the liver monolayer

shrank the lumen and glomerular

and even led to glomerular balloon enlargement(

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01). Normal dose of Zhuhong ointment had no significant effect on liver tissue morphology

but slightly changed kidney tissue morphology.

Conclusion:

2

Zhuhong ointment is not toxic at the normal dose

but long-term use can lead to the accumulation of mercury in liver

kidney and bra

which causes liver and kidney toxicity. This study did not find a more sensitive indicator of liver and kidney toxicity than liver and kidney pathology. However

because the rising levels of urinary mercury and blood mercury may predict toxicity

the relationship between mercury exposure and toxicity could be further studied. This study provides a reference for the rational use and toxicity monitoring of Zhuhong ointment.