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Male Wistar rats (n:20), at 5 wk of age, were given cadmium in drinking water (10 mg/L water) for 52 wk; 8 males and 20 female rats, as controls, were given tap water. At the end of 28 and 40 wk, some of the cadmium-treated males and control group male rats were sacrificed for the histopathological examination of testis, kidney, and liver. At the end of 56 wk, histopathological examinations were performed in the same way. Liver, kidney, and testis cadmium levels were also determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. All the cadmium-treated male rats showed pathological testicular alterations, and liver and kidney damage after chronic exposure. Cadmium levels were found to be highest in the kidney (1.009 +/- 0.034 microgram/g wet tissue in the infertile group). At the end of the 52-wk period, reproductive capacity of the cadmium-treated rats was investigated and was found to be lost in 39.89% of the animals.

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Despite the widespread clinical use of the lithotriptor, the margin of safety for the kidney during shock wave application is substantially unknown. Although a series of pilot studies have been performed in laboratory animals, long-term follow-up is mandatory to establish the effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and subsequent dose-dependent changes on the kidneys. An experimental study was performed in 45 rabbits; to define and compare the early and late complications of ESWL in the kidneys. The rabbits were divided into three groups of 15 animals each that received 1000, 1500 or 3000 shock waves respectively at 15-20 kV. The rabbits in each group were killed and necropsy performed within 24 h for the first 5 animals, 1 week for the second 5 animals and 2 months post-ESWL for the last 5 animals. Dose-dependent moderate damage (subcapsular hemorrhage, interstitial hemorrhage, capsular tension and perirenal hemorrhage) were noted in all kidneys at 24 h after treatment. Evidence of permanent changes (some fibrosis, tubular and glomerular damage, chronic inflammatory alterations) was noted in long-term follow up. Complete necrosis of the treated kidney was not encountered in this study.