Effects of serum cobalt ion concentration on the liver, kidney and heart in mice.

Objective: To investigate the effects of serum cobalt ion concentration on the liver, kidney and heart in mice.

Methods: Forty 4-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 in each group) as follows: Group 1 (HD), high-dose cobalt chloride group (3.28 mg/kg/day); Group 2 (MD), medium-dose cobalt chloride group (1.64 mg/kg/day); Group 3 (LD), low-dose group cobalt chloride group (0.82 mg/kg/day); and Group 4 (NC), normal control group (vehicle). Cobalt chloride and normal saline were given by intraperitoneal injection once per day for 3 weeks. The body weights of the mice were recorded every 3 days to ensure the correct doses of cobalt chloride. Blood samples for testing were taken at day 4, week 1, week 2 and week 3. Serum cobalt ion concentrations were measured in all samples whereas other serum biochemical variables, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and creatine kinase (CK) were evaluated at week 1, 2 and 3. After killing the mice at week 3, the heart, liver and kidney were collected for pathological evaluation.

Results: Serum cobalt ion concentration was different between the groups. High-dose cobalt chloride significantly increased AST, ALT and CK concentrations, the concentrations increasing in parallel with treatment duration. Pathological evaluation showed that high-dose cobalt chloride had toxic effects on the heart and liver; however no significant effect was apparent in the kidney.

Conclusion: High-dose cobalt ion concentration in serum has toxic effects on the heart and liver, but no significant effect on the kidney in mice.