Abstract

Background:
Trichloroethylene, a halocarbon solvent commonly used as a degreaser, is a major environmental hazard. Recent research reveals that continuous exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) contributes to the development of liver injury. TCE toxicology is particularly important because the liver is one of the most sensitive organs to toxic chemicals due to its metabolic processes.

Aim:
To Investigate the potential harm that trichloroethylene might have caused to the liver of rats.

Methods:
20 Healthy adult male Wister albino rats were divided in to two groups. each group had 10 rats. one group was treated with TCE (0.2 ml/100 gm [B.W of rat] orally administrated by gavage to induce liver injury. The control group was given corn oil for 12 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after a 12-week treatment period, blood samples were taken to separate serum for liver enzymes test, and liver tissue samples were fixed immediately in 10% neutral-buffered formalin .

Results:
Clinical symptoms, body weight changes, liver enzymes, and liver pathology (macro and micro) observed were examined. In terms of body weight, the control group increased significantly more than the TCE group, which decreased. According to the liver enzyme results, there was no significant increase in ALP but a considerable increase in AST and ALT enzymes. The results of liver pathology showed that the trichloroethylene group caused severe fatty changes of hepatocytes in the form of cytoplasmic lipid droplets, degenerative changes with proliferation of hepatocytes with necrosis, hyperplasia of the bile ducts, constricted central vein, proliferation of kuffer cells, apoptotic cells, and dilated sinusoids, while the control group experienced mild degenerative changes of hepatocytes. The current findings demonstrated the extensive damage that TCE caused to the liver tissue and enzymes.

Conclusion:
TCE caused hepatic damage in male rats after a long duration of exposure.

Key words: Trichloroethylene; Pathology; Liver; Male rats.