Electron microscopic study of the toxicological effects of sodium fluoride on lungs of adult albino rats

Since sodium fluoride [NaF] is implicated in the acute respiratory failure, the toxic effects of NaF ingestion on lung tissues were investigated. This experimental study was conducted on 40 adult albino rats. Experimental fluorosis was induced by daily oral administration of 18 mg/kg NaF for three successive months to twenty rats, while the other twenty rats were served as reference group with no medication. Electron microscopic study of the lung revealed injury of type I and II pneumocytes, haemorrhage, increase collagen fibers and apoptotic changes in alveolar macrophages in the form of fragmentation of nuclei. It was concluded that prolonged fluoride ingestion damages pulmonary tissues of rats

Ultrastructural study of the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on guinea pig's hepatocytes

This study was conducted on 40 normal adult guinea pigs to evaluate PCBsultrastructural effect on hepatocytes. PCB was administered orally for 3successive weeks at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in 5 ml ofcorn oil to the treated group, and the control group received orally 5 ml/day ofcorn oil. At the end of the experiment, examination of the liver tissue ofthe treated guinea pigs by light microscopic process showed liver cells withfatty degeneration, cloudy swelling, focal necrosis and intact limiting plate. Electron microscopic study revealed peripheralization of cytoplasmicorganelles towards the plasma membrane. Mitochondria was the most numerousorganelle and the matrix appeared to be dense. Some mitochondria weresurrounded by CMA. Areas of cytoplasmic vascular degeneration and lipidaccumulations and binucleation were observed

Comparative study of the chronic toxicity of two organotin compounds on albino rats

This study was conducted on 360 adult albino rats of both sexes to evaluatesome of the chronic toxicity of two organotin compounds [TBTO and MBTCL]. Therats were grouped into two control groups orally received the vehicles and twoother groups orally received 1/10 of oral LD50 of TBTO and MBTCL. Monthly forthree months, biochemical and histopathological investigations were done. Tenrats were taken monthly from each group to make their chromosomal patterns. As regards nephrotoxicity, both compounds produced remarkable progressivehistopathological changes with no significant increase in blood urea andcreatinine. The hepatotoxin of both compounds were nearly the same throughthe study [biochemically and histopathologically]. Also, both compounds causeprogressive histopathological changes of almost the same degree in lungs,intestine, brain and heart. Regarding the cytogenetic study, TBTO was foundto be more toxic than MBTCL. This was deduced from the very highlysignificant increase in the number of cells with structural chromosomalanomalies and the total number of structural anomalies in the TBTO treatedgroup as compared with MBTCL treated group. It can be concluded that both TBTOand MBTCL were potentially toxic to the liver, kidneys and lungs. They hadalso mild to moderate toxic effects on intestine, brain and heart. Bothcompounds were highly genotoxic to albino rats. TBTO having more genotoxicpotential. Most of the toxic effects of both compounds were progressive

Cardiotoxic and genotoxic effects of doxorubicin in albino rats

Doxorubicin [DXR] is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment ofneoplastic diseases. To evaluate its cardiotoxicity and genotoxicity, it wasadministered orally for three successive weeks [three days a week] at a dailydose of 3.6 mg/kg body weight to a group of normal adult albino rats. At theend of the experiment, examination of the cardiac muscle of the treated ratsby light microscopic process showed areas of myocardial damage with separatedfoci of degenerated fibers, dilatation of blood vessels with increasedvasculature and areas of vascular degenerative changes between separatedirregular myofibrils. Electron microscopic study revealed, in addition to the above changes, a partial loss of myofibrils in some areas and degeneration in others, besides a disorganization of the nuclear membrane with nucleolusalternation and distension of blood capillaries. Increased vasculardegeneration and alternation of the interlocated discs were noted in manyareas with increased glycogen particles in-between the myofibrils. DXRinduced structural chromosomal aberration in the form of increased breaks andring chromosome formation, deletion of the short arm of acrocentricchromosome, and duplication of the long arm of metacentric chromosome, whilethe main numerical aberration was polyploidy chromosomal pattern

Light and electron microscopic studies of rabbit lungs in fresh water drowning and near-drowning

This study was designed to investigate the light and electron microscopic changes which occur in the lung of the rabbit in case of drowning and near-drowning. Thirty male healthy adult rabbits were used in this work. They were divided into three equal groups. The first group was used as a control group. The second group was anesthetized and endotracheal tube was introduced and 6 ml/kg of fresh water was instilled into the endotracheal tube. The animals were sacrificed after 29 minutes. The third group was also anesthetized and intubated, and fresh water was instilled into the endotracheal tube. Specimens from the lungs of the three groups were taken and processed for both light and electron microscopic processes. The results showed mainly vascular damage in near-drowning and marked alveolar cell damage in case of drowning

Morphological and genotoxic effects of cadmium chloride on the testis of albino rat

A light microscopic and cytogenetic study of the possible changes which may occur after cadmium chloride treatment was made in an effort to identify the site of action of cadmium. Cadmium chloride was administered orally five times a week [for Sand 10 weeks] with 1/10 of the lethal dose [3.75 mg/kg] to male adult albino rats. Its effects were investigated on the histological status of the testis, the morphology of spermatozoa and the cytogenetic effect on the bone marrow cells. Then the treatment was stopped for 10 weeks. Thirty-two adult male rats were used and classified into 4 equal groups: A control group. two groups for testing the effects of cadmium chloride and a follow-up group. After cadmium chloride treatment the seminiferous tubules showed a mixed pattern of incomplete spermatogenic arrest and different grades from mild to severe hypospermatogenic activity. Disorganization and sloughing of spermatogenic cells into the lumen of the tubules were also seen. The interstitial tissue showed engorgement of the blood vessels and pyknotic Leydig cells specially after 10 weeks. There was an increased incidence of morphological abnormalities of the spermatozoa in the treated rats. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of bone marrow cells showing neuploidy. Ten weeks later, after cessation of treatment no significant difference as compared with the control, was found in the treated groups. Similarly, there were little residual effects of cadmium chloride on the histological picture of the testis and on the sperms