Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a hydrocarbon compound that widely used in many industries. Intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride at dose level of 0.01 ml / g bw 3 days / week for 5, 7, and 9 weeks induced marked histological, histochemical changes in liver of albino mice. The histological changes included congestion of blood vessels, leucocytic infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuolation, fatty infiltration, necrosis, fibrosis and finally cirrhosis. CCl4 also caused significant reduction in hepatic polysaccharides and total protein contents. Treating mice with CCl4 caused significant increases in serum ALT, AST and total lipids while it induced significant decrease in serum albumin. These alterations were time-dependent. Treating animals with both carbon tetrachloride and chromium (Cr) led to improvement in the histological liver picture together with significant restoration of hepatic carbohydrate and protein contents. Chromium reduced the elevated activities of AST and ALT induced by CCl4, decreased the level of total lipids and increased serum albumin. These results proved that chromium had an inhibitory effect against liver injury produced by carbon tetrachloride.
Key words: CHROMIUM, CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY, MICE, HISTOLOGY, HISTOCHEMISTRY
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