Subacute and subchronic toxicity of formaldehyde spray exposure in male albino rats: hormonal, ultrastructural and histological study on the testis

To evaluate the toxicity of formaldehyde on the testicular tissue, it was sprayed at a high concentration for both short and moderate periods of time. Also, the reversibility of such toxic effects was studied after cessation of exposure. Male albino rats were exposed to a concentration of 30 ppm formaldehyde vapour for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for consecutive 4 and 12 weeks respectively. Furthermore. Some animals were left under similar experimental conditions without any exposure for the same time-intervals after being exposed to the above-mentioned concentration and durations. Plasma concentrations of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were measured. Moreover, histological as well as ultrastructural studies were also done on the testicular tissue using both the light and electron microscopes. Plasma concentrations of hormones showed marked reductions in a time-dependant manner - in formaldehyde exposed animals. This was further rellected on the morphological appearance of the testis which was found to be markedly affected -in also a time-deendent manner- following exposure to formaldehyde. In addition, either the hormonal or morphological changes were - irreversible after cessation of exposure for equal periods particularly after prolonged exposure. It was concluded that heavy exposure to formaldehyde increases the risk for an irreversible testicular affection in a time-dependent manner

Post-mortem diagnosis of renal failure

The present study was carried out on 100 Egyptian subjects, aged 17-75 years. They were classified into 4 groups: Group I [n=20] included healthy subjectswith negative history of renal troubles, group II [n=20] included patientswith previous known history of uremia, and the last group included 60 cadaverswhich again divided into group III [n=18] included cadavers without provedrenal pathology, and group IV [n=24] included cadavers with proved renalpathological changes. Randomly collected blood samples from the wholesubjects as well as vitreous samples from both eyes of cadavers were used forthe estimation of urea, creatinine, uric acid, and G- glutamyl transpeptidaseactivities. In addition, wedge-shaped renal slices from both kidneys weretaken from cadavers to assure the diagnosis, and to make if possible acorrelation between the histopathologic findings and the biochemical results