Table 1

Prevalence (% [n]) of liver and kidney histopathology in East Greenland polar bears sampled during 1999–2002

Organ
Absent
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Age p (F)

Liver (n = 59)





Multifocally mononuclear cell infiltrations
89 (53)
11 (6)
-
-
n.s.
Portal mononuclear cell infiltrations
85 (50)
8 (5)
7 (4)
-
n.s.
Lipid granulomas
37 (22)
36 (21)
22 (13)
5 (3)
n.s.
Hepatocytic steatosis
-
24 (14)
24 (14)
52 (31)
n.s.
Ito cell lipid accumulation
36 (21)
14 (8)
19 (11)
31 (19)
** (7.8)
Bile duct proliferation with fibrosis
92 (54)
8 (5)
-
-
*** (15.6)
Kidney (n = 57)





Glomerular diffuse capillary wall thickening
72 (41)
25 (14)
3 (2)
-
*** (8)
Glomerular mesangial deposits/sclerosis
22 (13)
39 (22)
39 (22)
-
* (5.6)
Interstitial fibrosis
75 (42)
12 (7)
13 (8)
-
*** (49.8)
Tubular epithelial cell hyperplasia
75 (42)
12 (7)
13 (8)
-
** (6.7)
Tubular hyalinization/atrophy/dilatation/necrosis
61 (35)
12 (7)
27 (15)
-
*** (30.8)
Tubular medullar hyaline casts
84 (48)
13 (8)
3 (1)
-
* (6.6)
Mononuclear cell infiltrations
39 (22)
42 (24)
19 (11)
-
n.s.

Lesions are divided into groups of absent, mild, moderate and severe. n.s.: individuals with lesions not significantly older (mean age) than individuals without lesions at p > 0.05. *: individuals with lesions significantly older (mean age) than individuals without lesions at p ≤ 0.05, **: at p ≤ 0.01 and ***: at p ≤ 0.001.

Sonne et al. Environmental Health 2007 6:11   doi:10.1186/1476-069X-6-11