Physiological and histopathological changes in the liver of male rats exposed to paracetamol and diazinon

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the adverse effect of exposure to Diazinon (DIA) and Paracetamol (PARA) and their combination on male rats. Rats were orally administered PARA at a dose of 66.66 mg a.i. kg−1 body weight (maximum administration dose) and DIA at a dose 12.50 mg a.i. kg−1 b.wt. (1/100 LD50) for 28 consecutive days. Significantly, decreased of body weights were observed in all treated groups, while significant increase in relative liver weight were recorded in DIA and DIA+PARA-treated groups compared to control rats. Liver dysfunction enzymes (e.g., aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alanine aminotransferase, ALT; alkaline phosphatase, ALP and lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) and Lipid Peroxidation Level (LPO) were increased in DIA, PARA and DIA+PARA-treated groups. Treatment of DIA and DIA+PARA caused significant decrease in the activity of serum Cholinesterase (ChE). PARA, DIA and PARA+DIA treatments caused histopathological changes and decreases in DNA content in liver cells of rats. The severities of such observations were more pronounced in their combined exposure. We can conclude that both paracetamol at maximum administration dose and diazinon caused biochemical and histopathological alteration in the liver of male rats. The severities of such observations were more pronounced in their combined exposure. The data throw light on the problem of simultaneous exposure to OPIs and commonly used drugs especially among agriculture sector workers in developing countries, where the handling of drugs (e.g., PARA) is mainly without medical prescription. Further studies, applied to pregnant women, newborns and childhood may be of great significance.