Abstract

Present communication reports the low dose and sub chronic duration dependent histopathological changes after exposure to Aroclor 1254 in the kidney tissue of Swiss albino mice. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) like Aroclor 1254 congeners accumulate in tissues rich in lipids and remain inside for a long time, affecting the functionality of the cells in direct and indirect ways. The most commonly observed effects were skin ailments like chloracne, rashes and effects on kidney functions. Animal studies indicated that PCBs could affect the functionality of the kidney, thyroid, immune and endocrine systems. Separate groups of mice were subjected to a daily oral dose of 0.1 mg/kg bw./d and 1 mg/kg bw./d Aroclor 1254, dissolved in corn oil, for four sub-acute exposure durations(7, 14, 21 and 28 d). Control groups were received only the corn oil (vehicle). Results revealed mainly exposure duration dependent histopathological lesions like dilation of the tubular cells, fragmentation of cytoplasm and loss of nuclear materials, formation of large vacuoles inside the cells, necrosis etc. even at very low doses of Aroclor intoxication. Present study reports predominantly exposure duration dependent histopathological effects of Aroclor 1254 in the kidney tissue of mice. The study suggested that the sub-acute exposure to low doses of Aroclor 1254 could cause significant irreparable structural deformities in the renal cells of the kidney tissue. Results also showed that renal tubular cells were more affected showing severe necrosis.

Key words: PCBs, Aroclor 1254, in vivo toxicity, Histopathology, Kidney, Mice.