Biochemical studies on molybdenum toxicity in rats: effects of high protein feeding.

Chronic oral administration of ammonium molybdate in rats markedly retarded the growth rate of rats and high protein diet could partially reverse this condition. The activities of several enzymes viz. acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, inorganic pyrophosphatase and acetylcholinesterase in different tissues and serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin and cortisol are altered due to the toxicity conditions and high protein diet fed group of animals showed almost normal values in respect of a few of these parameters. Normal histological pattern of both liver and kidney tissues were altered under molybdenum toxicity condition. Significant increase of basophilic substances are observed in the cytoplasm of the liver cells of the toxic group of animals which is counteracted by feeding high protein diet.