Effects of antioxidants [antox] on the liver of adult male albino rat exposed to herbicides [paraquat]

ABSTRACT

Paraquat [PQ] is widely used as a herbicide. Although it is very toxic for humans and animals, it is still used in about 130 countries of the world to control harmful weeds in growing corn, fruit trees and vegetables. The aim of the present study was to elucidate histological changes of the possible protective role of antioxidant [Antox] on the adult male albino rat liver when given with the PQ. 21 male adult albino rats were used and were classified into three groups; Control group [G1], PQ given group [G2] and Antox with PQ-given group [G3]. Paraffin sections of liver parenchyma were prepared and stained with H and E. Others were prepared for electron microscope examination. The histological examination of the liver of PQ-given rats eith H and E revealed remarkable changes versus control animals. The liver parenchyma showed marked congestion with dilated blood sinusoid and congested central vein. Hepatocytes showed contracted, pyknotic nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. There was markedly congested central vein invaded with inflammatory cells indicationg that there was severe hepatocyte necrosis. The histological examination of the livers of G3 given animals revealed that antox ameliorated the PQ induced liver injuries and improved the histological liver appearance. The electron microscopic examination of sections of G2 livers showed that the degenerated hepatocytes. The cytoplasm of the hepatocytes contained dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, bizarre-shaped mitochondaria, and lysosomes. Nuclei of degenerating hepatocytes were irregular or small shrunken and the parenchyma was infiltrated with a neutrophil with an indented nucleus. The electron microscopic examinations of sections of the livers of G3 showed apparently normal hepatocytes. There were some hepatocytes having euchromatic euchromatic nuclei. Other hepatocytes were having dark elongated nuclei. The cytoplasm contained a variable shaped mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, a few lipid droplets and the cells canalicular border were facing relatively dilated bile canaliculi. The parenchyma was infiltrated with a neutrophil having fine granules. The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of the combination antioxidants [Antox] in reducing the paraquat-related degenerative histological changes in the liver parenchyma. It also demonstrated that the antox plays major role in ameliorating these delirious changes. It is recommended to investigate the other possible factors which may be involved in the PQ- associated liver damage [e.g. heavy metals]