Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective effect of α-tocopherol and/or selenium on some plasmatic biochemical indices of liver profile and hepatic damage induced in adult male rats exposed to subchronic dose of malathion (MTN) equivalent to 1/50 LD50. Oral administration of MTN for 45 days significantly induced severe hepatic injury as revealed by increased activity of plasmatic biochemical indices, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzymes. Oral administration of α-tocopherol (α-T) and selenium (Se) concomitant with MTN resulted in a significant ameliorative effect by lowering the elevated plasma levels of the previous enzymes. Light microscopic investigation revealed that MTN exposure was associated with necrosis of hepatocytes and marked degenerative changes of liver tissues. Coadministration of (α-T) and Se concomitant with MTN to rats improved the histopathological severity score from severe to normal. However the individual treatment of (α-T) or Se correlated with a relative protection as reflected in the change of the histopathological severity score from severe to mild and moderate, respectively. Thus, it appears that the treatment with (α-T) and/or Se improves MTN hepatotoxicity but is not completely protective.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, Histopathology, Malathion, Plasmatic biochemical indices, Selenium, α-Tocopherol