Study of the effect of food additives on the structures of the lung and kidney of albino rats

ABSTRACT

Butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT] is a well known food additive, as it prevent fat rancidity, as well as antioxidant and is used in several clinical purposes. Forty male rats were used to study the effect of BHT on the kidney and lung. The animals were divided into three groups. Animals of group I served as controls. Animals of group II were given BHT orally 25 mg/Kg BW daily for 6 weeks and those of group III were given BHT orally daily [double the dose] 50 mg/kg BW for 6 weeks. The kidney showed changes in the glomeruli in the form of thickening and irregularity of Bowman's membrane with hypertrophy of its endothelial lining and proliferation of parietal epithelial cell on the expense of urinary space. There was also change in the proximal tubules in the form of thickening of tubular basement membrane with loss of normal basal in folding together with increased vacuolation and lysosomal content. There was also loss of normal longitudinal arrangement of mitochondria. As regards the lungs, they showed thickening of the alveolocapillary and interalveolar septum with narrowing of the alveolar space. There was evidence of damage of type I pneumocytes and proliferation of type II which dedifferentiate into newly formed type I to regenerate the respiratory epithelium and to compensate the parenchymal damage. Extensive collagen deposition and fibrosis was clearly seen. BHT is a useful food additive used as antioxidant in many purposes. However, the dose used to study the effect of the abuse of BHT as a food additive has some side effects, especially on the lung and kidney. So, the study recommended the usage of BHT as a food additive in the lowest possible dose especially in children