ABSTRACT
Thioacetamide [TAA] is used as a fungicide and one of the human carcinogens which induces multiorgan failure including hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of taurine [2- amino-ethane sulfonic acid], against [TAA] induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Twenty adult male albino rats [150-200g] were divided into 4 groups, 5 rats each. Group I served as control, received [1ml/100g] 0.9% saline intraperitoneally [i p] for 4 days. Group II received [TAA] [300mg/kg] [i.p] for two consecutive days. Group III received taurine [400mg/kg] [i.p] for two consecutive days prior to the [TAA]. Group IV received the same dose of taurine only. All animals were sacrificed on the 5th day after the beginning of the experiment. For histological studies, liver sections were stained with H and E, PAS and Masson's trichrome stains. Other minute specimens from the liver were processed for transmission electron microscopic study. The histological results of [TAA] injected rats revealed loss of normal hepatic architecture, most of the hepatocytes of centrilobular region showed necrosis and vacuolated cytoplasm,, marked decrease of PAS positive material and minimal increase of collagen fibers inbetween blood sinusoids were noticed. The ultrastructural findings showed that hepatocytes contained polymorphic mitochondria with apparent loss of their cristea, numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles, loss of short microvilli and apparent decrease of the glycogen granules.These changes were improved markedly, both histologically and ultrastructurally with taurine administration. It is concluded that [TAA] induces severe hepatic alterations. These alterations were less prominent in animals treated with taurine indicating that taurine can be used as a possible hepatoprotector agent against [TAA] induced toxicity