ABSTRACT
Carbon tetrachloride [CC14] is a clear colourless liquid with an ethereal odour, it is used as a solvent for oils, fats, lacquers, varnishes and resins. The objective of this study was to elucidate the immuonotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of CC14 on adult albino rats and their relationship. Thirty adult male albino rats were utilized. They were divided into three equal groups, two control groups and the third group was treated by 25 mg/kg body. weight [B. W.] CC14 dissolved in corn oil and introduced by gavage daily for four weeks. All animals were sacrificed at the end of the fourth week, their blood and serum were subjected to biochemical analysis while spleen tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and immunohistochemical staining. The results of the present study revealed that, CC14 induced a significant decrease in total body weight and spleen weight at the end of the experiment, suppression in humoral immune response represented by a significant decrease in [IgG and IgM] and cellular immune response represented by a significant decrease in CD4 and CD8 subsets of T-lymphocytes when analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining of splenic sections. It also increase the total leucocytic count and as regard differential count only the number of neutrophilis and eosinophilis were increase, while lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly decreased. Regarding pathological changes on the spleen of CC14 treated group, splenic lymphoid follicles were markedly depleted and atrophied leaving only irregular outline. Central-arterioles were narrowed with decrease in the size of per arteriolar lymphoid sheath [PALS] and the inter- follicular zone showed mild congestion. Exposure to CC14 induced hepatotoxic effect which represented by a significant increase in alanine transaminase [ALT] enzyme activity and a significant decrease in serum total proteins and albumin. It is concluded that, CC14 produced an immunosuppressive and hepatotoxic effect at the same dose level. Efforts must be taken to restrict the usage of CC14 to minimize its hazardous effects on human and environment and also to protect ozone layer from its depleting effect