Abstract

EFFECT OF POTASSIUM DICHROMATE (K2Cr2O7) ON INTESTINAL MOTILITY OF MALE RATS – AN IN VITRO STUDY

Riya Mondal, Dipan Adhikari, Tithankar Pradhan, Priya Ghosh, Jeet Datta and Nirmal Pradhan*

ABSTRACT

Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) is a commonly used inorganic reagent, mostly used as oxidizing agent in various laboratory and industrial applications and is randomly used to tan leather and woods. It is also reported to have potent carcinogenic effect. In West Bengal, it is widely used in the leather industries and is not disposed properly. As why, this heavy metallic salt is contaminated via water, soil and food as major sources and causes severe disturbances to public health regardless of different systems. Till date so many reports are found regarding gastro intestinal disturbances, but all are limited on in vivo studies. No report on in vitro effect of potassium di chromate regarding intestinal motility yet is found. So, in the present study we made anattempt to study the same as the preliminary trial. We made trial on isolated intestine of mature albino male rats through in vitro technique in Dale’s bath. Initially we gave trial by four random doses as 50, 100, 200 and 500mg % of potassium di chromate. 0.5ml K2Cr2O7 solution was applied in 30 ml Dale’s bath. Of these, 200mg% gave no significant change but significant inhibitions in contraction rate and contraction height were observed in 500mg% dose. To study the nature of inhibition, we used acetylcholine and it’s antagonist along with adrenergic antagonist parallel to K2Cr2O7. The results favor the anticholinergic and or adrenergic effect of K2Cr2O7 on intestinal motility and or may be direct toxic effect of the drug. To become assure of the inhibitory nature of drug on smooth muscle, we gave trial on isolated uterine movements following the use of adrenergic antagonist and found the similar inhibitory spasmolytic nature as on isolated intestine. But the exact mechanism is still mysterious, which should be studied further as extended work. So, it may be concluded that K2Cr2O7 may cause dysregulation of intestinal as well as uterine motility manifesting the constipation and birth defect. The future suggestion is to restrict the uses and proper disposal of chromates in in the environment.

Keywords: Potassium dichromate, Intestine, Uterus, Adrenergic, Anticholinergic, Smooth muscle.