Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Toxicity in Kidney and Reproductive Tract

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (2002-2006)

Principal Investigator: Ivan Sabolić

Project funded since: July 1, 2002
Duration: 3 years

SUMMARY
Aiming to understand in more details the mechanisms of toxicity of some heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb, cis-Pt) in the mammalian renal and reproductive tract epithelium, we perform studies in experimental animals (rats) in which we use various preparative, functional, immunocytochemical, and molecular biology methods to investigate the time-dependent effects of heavy metals upon cell cytoskeleton and specific mRNA’s as well as the activity and distribution of various transporters in cells along the nephron and male and female reproductive tract.

We expect to see an early (within hours following heavy metal application) damage of cytoskeleton, an abnormal distribution of the cell membrane transporters, and impaired cell functions, however with no change in the specific mRNA’s abundance.