Hepatic toxicity of nickel chloride in mice

The present study is to evaluate the toxic effects of nickel (Ni) on the liver structure of male mice. Male Balb/c mice weighing 30–32 g, 50 days old, were treated orally with 1–16 mg/kg (body wt.) NiCl₂. The body weight, liver weight, histological examination of liver, and DNA ladder for apoptosis were studied. Ni induced increases in apoptotis and severity of necrosis. Liver weight and body weight decreased with increasing dose. Histological changes in the liver included hepatocyte degeneration, nuclear pycnosis, cellular swelling, and congestion of blood vessels. There was a marked difference in these changes among the different treatments of Ni concentrations in addition to the intensity of histological changes which were, however, influenced by the extent of the exposure period. It has been concluded that nickel caused apoptotis in liver of male mice.