Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is an environmental pollutant with vast mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. Various past and recent studies confirm the deleterious effects of Cr(VI) in different models, from invertebrates to mammalians. However, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively assess and correlate Cr(VI) accumulation patterns and the resulting physiological responses. Here we used an attractive toxicological model, male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), as an alternative probing system to evaluate Cr(VI) accumulation in the vital organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and testes after 20 days of exposure to 1.2 μg/mL and 2.4 μg/mL potassium dichromate-K₂Cr₂O₇ ingested in the form of drinking water. The observed effects were correlated with the shift in immune system readiness, hematological indices, serum biochemistry and enzyme activity. Regardless of the exposure dose, the Cr(VI) distribution and accumulation pattern in terms of relative Cr(VI) concentration in tissues was: testes > kidneys > liver > heart > brain. Moreover, Cr(VI) triggered the development of microcytic and hypochromic anemia and reduced the immune system’s readiness to cope with challenges. Besides, serum biochemistry presented significant shifts, including reduction of serum electrolytes and proteins and an increase in creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Our study provides novel toxicological data that can be translated to higher animal models to help in the extrapolation of Cr(VI) toxicity in humans.

六价铬（Cr（VI））是具有巨大诱变和致癌潜力的环境污染物。过去和最近的各种研究证实，从无脊椎动物到哺乳动物，Cr（VI）在不同模型中的有害作用。但是，缺乏全面评估和关联六价铬（Cr）积累模式和所产生的生理反应的研究。在这里，我们使用了有吸引力的毒理学模型：雄性日本鹌鹑（Coturnix japonica），作为替代探测系统，评估了暴露20天后六价铬在人体重要器官（包括脑，心脏，肾脏，肾脏，肝脏和睾丸）中的蓄积情况至1.2μg/ mL和2.4μg/ mL重铬酸钾-K ₂ Cr ₂ O ₇以饮用水形式摄入。观察到的影响与免疫系统准备状态，血液学指标，血清生化和酶活性的变化有关。无论暴露剂量如何，相对于组织中Cr（VI）相对浓度的Cr（VI）分布和累积方式为：睾丸>肾脏>肝脏>心脏>脑。而且，Cr（VI）引发了小细胞性贫血和低色素性贫血的发展，并降低了免疫系统应对挑战的准备。此外，血清生物化学呈现出显着变化，包括血清电解质和蛋白质减少以及肌酸激酶（CK）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性增加。