 Corresponding author: Epy Muhammad Luqman, email: Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. The effects of mercury chloride (HgCl2) administration with different intervals on kidney damage in mice (Mus Musculus) Nurdita Dwi Handayani, Widjiati Widjiati, Maslichah Mafruchati, Gracia Angelina Hendarti and Epy Muhammad Luqman * Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(01), 567–572 Publication history: Received on 26 November 2023; revised on 02 January 2024; accepted on 06 January 2024 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.1.0031 Abstract Introduction: Inorganic mercury could cause acute toxicity and absorbed through the digestive system and distributed throughout all tissues of the body, with a significant portion accumulating in kidneys and gallbladder. Objective: This study aims to investigate the influence of mercury chloride (HgCl 2) administration at doses contained in rice clams (Corbula faba) from the Kenjeran coast in Surabaya, Indonesia, with varying administration intervals on kidney damage in mice. In this research, 24 male CBR strain mice, aged three months, were randomly divided into four groups, each consisting of six replicates. The groups included Control P0 (without mercury), Group P1 (mercury administration once a day), Group P2 (mercury administration twice a day), and Group P3 (mercury administration three times a day). Mercury administration was carried out orally for 52 days. Data analysis was conducted using non- parametric Kruskal-Wallis statistical test, followed by a Z-test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Mercury chloride (HgCl2) administration at a dose of 0.6418 ppm with varying administration intervals resulted in kidney damage characterized by interstitial hemorrhage, degeneration of proximal convoluted tubules, degeneration of distal convoluted tubules, and glomerulonephritis. Administration of mercury three times a day (P3) led to the highest kidney damage, which was not significantly different from the group receiving mercury twice a day (P2), while daily administration of mercury (P1) did not significantly differ from the control group (P0). Conclusion: It can be concluded that administration of HgCl2 could increase decrease kidney damage (p<0.05) and administration of mercury three times a day led to the highest kidney damage. Keywords: Mercury chloride; Kidney damage; Mice; Corbula faba; Heavy metal 1. Introduction The level of pollution has been increasing in recent times. In the past two decades, the quality of the environment in Indonesia has tended to decline to dangerous levels. Progress in the industrial sector has brought about advancements, but it has also resulted in negative environmental impacts, including pollution of air, water, and soil. Water pollution from industrial waste has reached a critical level, especially pollution caused by heavy metals such as Hg, Cd, and Pb. Most heavy metals accumulate biologically in aquatic organisms as cumulative toxins [1]. Heavy metal pollution in seawater and rivers can lead to contamination of aquatic animals such as fish, shrimp, squid, clams, and more. These metals are absorbed into the bodies of fish and are distributed throughout their muscle tissues, such as methylmercury, mercury salts, and others. The largest source of metal pollution is industrial waste disposal.