ABSTRACT
N-Hexane is an important volatile solvent. It has been used in many industries and occupational toxic exposure was reported by many authors as Buitatti, et al. [1978] and Bragnone, et al. [1980] among the vinyl sandal and leather workers. This study were performed on albino rats. N-Hexane was given by intraperitoneal injection in the following order: 75, 150, 300 mg/kg body weight twice a week for three exposed groups I, II, III, respectively. A control non-treated group was injected with 1% tween 80 in the same order. The toxic effects were noticed on brain, liver, lungs and testicles of the treated groups. The brains of the exposed rats did not show any significant change in the oxygen uptake compared with the control group. However, they showed marked histopathological changes. There was significant decrease in the oxygen uptake by the liver of exposed groups I, II, III [70.23, 34.84, 3.67 ml / 100 g wet tissue, respectively] in comparison to that of the controls [119 ml / 100 g wet tissue], together with a dose related increase in the liver function enzymes. Lungs showed a toxic response in the form of emphysematous changes, bronchiolar hyperplasia and peribronchiolar lymphocytic infiltration. The n-hexane effect on the testis was observed in the form of decrease in the average diameter of the semineferous tubules 310, 260 and 240 micrometers in groups I, II, III, respectively, in comparison to the control group [420 micrometer]. This study indicates a definite toxic effect of n-hexane on the brain, lung, liver and testis of the exposed rats