A Study on the Effect of Chitin, Chitosan and Dithiocarbamate Chitosan on the Nickel Toxicity in Rat liver

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Chitosan on the nickel poisoning in rats. In the study, 150 male Sprague-Dawley were used. The experimental groups were divided into four: A (30 mg/L nickel), B (30 mg/L nickel+0.2% Chitin, Chitosan and Dithiocarbamate Chitosan), C (30 mg/L nickel+0.4% Chitin, Chitosan and Dithiocarbamate Chitosan), D (30 mg/L nickel+0.8%Chitin, Chitosan and Dithiocarbamate Chitosan). The results were as flows; 1. The nickel concentration in the livers of the control group (A) was $0.153{\sim}0.186\;mg/kg$ but the nickel concentration in the livers of the experimental decreased during the experimental period (P<0.05). 2. Metallothionenin levels in rat liver were $2.77{\sim}3.25\;ug/g$ wet,wt in control group (A), but were $2.89{\sim}3.51\;ug/g$ wet,wt (B), $2.97{\sim}3.62\;ug/g$ wet,wt (C), $2.68{\sim}3.68\;ug/g$ wet,wt (D). Respectively in the experimental groups. The experimental groups were inclined to increase compare to the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed a preventive effect of Chitin, Chitosan and Dithiocarbamate Chitosan against nickel toxicity.