Impairments of bone marrow hematopoietic cells followed by the sever erythrocyte damage and necrotic liver as the outcome of chronic in vivo exposure to cadmium: novel insights from quails.

Cadmium is a heavy metal classified as an environmental hazard, and its toxicity is subject to extensive research. Japanese quails were exposed to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) ad libitum for 20 days. Bone marrow, peripheral blood and liver were analyzed following the exposure. Moreover, we have provided the very first explanation of hematopoietic lines in Japanese quail. Following CdCl2 exposure, changes in the number, size and morphology of blood cells were observed in both peripheral blood and bone marrow. Alterations included severe erythrocyte damage, monocytosis and lymphopenia. In the liver of Cd-exposed animals we observed necrotic cells, absence of hematopoietic regions and cytogenetic changes of hepatocytes. Alterations in the bone marrow were also noted, as well as giant phagocytic cells, most likely macrophages. In vivo, CdCl2 exposure caused swift and destructive changes in the hematopoietic niche, liver and other tissues responsible for the detoxification cycle of cadmium and its compounds.