Correlation between the mean nuclear area, DNA contents and AgNORs count in hepatocytes of irradiated rats

ABSTRACT

Twenty four male Sparague - Daweley rats weighing 150- 170 g were used. Animals were randomly divided into four groups [n=6/group], three groups were irradiated with a single 8- gray [GY] fraction for 15-20 min and examined at different times [1, 2 and 3 days] after irradiation. The fourth group served as normal control. The histological changes of hepatocytes revealed variable degrees of oedema, chronic cellular infiltration, cloudy swelling and damaged bile ducts epithelial cells. The nuclei were shrunk and the cromatin was clumped adjacent to the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope .The magnitude of these changes were directly proportional to the time. The morphometric measurements of the mean nuclear areas [MNA] and AgNORs count were evaluated in hepatocytes of normal and irradiated rats using computerized image analysis. The histochemical study revealed marked increase in the nuclear DNA contents in parallizm with the higher AgNORs counts and the significant decrease in MNA of hepatocytes nuclei in all irradiated rats