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

ABSTRACT

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