Clinical and experimental study of acute intoxication as a result of ingestion of stone hair dye containing paraphenylenediamine

Hair dyes containing para-phenylenediamine were used in some communities for criminal purposes and more frequently for attempted suicide and sometimes accidentally ingested. The aim of the present work to analyze the various aspects of poisoning fatalities as a result of stone hair dye [SHD] ingestion through a retrospective study of fatalities investigated by Assiut Chemical Laboratory of Medico-legal Department, Ministry of Justice in four governorates in Upper Egypt and to detect the systemic effects on experimental animals as a result of its ingestion and if there is dose-effect relationship. The records of acute poisoning cases of hair dye ingestion investigated by Assiut Medicolegal Laboratory in the period from January 2002 to December 2009 were examined as regarding type of poison, pattern, incidence, sex, geographical distribution and mode of poisoning. The studying of the systemic effects on ingestion of hair dye was conducted on 30 albino rats divided into five groups each contain 6 animals. The first group was the control and the other groups were subjected to oral administration of either stone hair dye or para-phenylenediamine [PPD] in two doses [10 and 20 mg each]. The animals were sacrificed after 24 hours and haematological, histopathological [liver and kidney] and biochemical examinations were performed. The results obtained from the records revealed that 72.29% of the cases were from Qena, 14.45% from Aswan, 12% from Sohag and 1.2% from Assiut. The highest incidence of poisoning was found in 2006 [19.3%] followed by 2008, 2009 [15.7%] each, then 2004 and 2005 [13.3%], 2007 [12%], 2002 [7.2%] and lastly 2003 [3.6%]. The majority of victim's were females and most of cases were suicides. There were insignificant changes in RBCs count in all groups and insignificant decrease of Hb concentration while WBCs count was very significantly increased. The levels of AST and ALT showed a significant increase in all treated groups while serum level of creatinine was insignificantly decreased. There was significant increase in the plasma enzymes AST, GPT, the liver tissues showed many degenerative changes in the form of vacuolated cytoplasm and irregular deeply stained nuclei of the hepatocytes with vascular congestion and lymphocytic infiltration. The same results were obtained with both SHD and PPD. They were more obvious with high doses of both. The results confirmed that Para-phenylenediamine is the main toxic ingredient in stone hair dye, and the experimental study revealed that the liver is the target organ of para-phenylenediamine and SHD toxicity, also that toxic manifestations were dose related. This compound is highly toxic when taken by mouth and the outcome depends mainly on the dose taken. The study recommends that the sale and use of PPD containing dyes, SHD and henna should be prohibited

Protective effect of aminoguanidine against cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats: histological and biochemical study

Cyclosporine A [CsA] is a potent and effective immuno-suppressive agent used to prevent rejection in organ transplant surgery and autoimmune diseases. Its use is frequently accompanied by nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of aminoguanidine on Cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in male albino rats. A total of sixty healthy adult male albino rats were used divided into four equal groups in this study. Group I rats served as control treated with distilled water orally only, group II was treated with CsA in a dose of 25mg/kg orally daily for 21 days, group III treated with CsA concurrently with aminoguanidine in doses of 25 and 20mg/kg orally daily for 21 days respectively and group IV was treated with olive oil orally [vehicle for CsA]. Rats were sacrificed 24 hs after last dose, blood, kidney and liver samples were taken. Histopathological examination by light and electron microscopic, immunohistochemistry for active caspase-3 were done. Besides, biochemical measurement; serum nitric oxide level and kidney and liver functions tests were done. CsA oral administration for 21 days significantly increased serum nitric oxide level impaired the renal and hepatic function tests and markedly distorted the renal and hepatic morphology in light and electron microscopic examination. Aminoguanidine administration improved serum nitric oxide level, kidney and liver function tests and preserved renal and hepatic morphological structures. Aminoguanidine has a protective effect against Cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity