The detection of apoptosis in the follicular cells in this study which was explained in many other studies [31] and [32]. They stated that CrVI induced DNA fragmentation, increased apoptosis, increased cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to cytosol, down regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and other mediators; upregulated pro-apoptotic [2]. Also it was documented that potassium dichromate-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in the hepatocytes of Wistar rats.
Some authors explained in details the mechanism by which the Cr(VI) lead to apoptosis. They hypotheses that soluble Cr(VI) is metabolized within cells by reductive agents including ascorbic acid, glutathione and cysteine and a diverse range of genetic lesions are generated. Some forms of Cr damage present physical barriers to DNA replication/transcription and promote a terminal cell fate such as apoptosis or terminal growth arrest. Other DNA lesions are potentially pre-mutagenic and lead to DNA damage and cell cycle arrest [33], [34] and [35].