Visceral reaction to prolonged exposure to sub-anaesthetic doses of trichloroethylene in albino rats

ABSTRACT

This work was designed to study the effect of chronic exposure to a sub-anaesthetic concentration of trichloroethylene [0.5%] on some internal organs in ablino rats. 40 mature ablino rats of both sexes were selected for this study. These rats were divided into four equal groups [I, II, III and IV]. Rats of group I and III were exposed 2 hours/day, 5 days/week for 90 days to a sub-anaesthetic concentration of trichloroethylene - oxygen mixture. At end of exposure period, group I rats were sacrificed but group III rats were allowed a recovery period of one month before sacrification. Group II and group IV were treated like group I and group III respectively except that they were exposed to oxygen and served as their control groups. After sacrification, autopsies were taken from the internal organs of rats [Brain, Lungs, Heart, Liver, Spleen and kidneys] for histopathological examination. From this study, it was found that chronic exposure to sub-anaesthetic concentration of trichloroethylene produced histopathological changes to all examined organs. Fortunately, these pathological changes were reversed by one month protection from exposure