Abstract
The present investigation was aimed to determine the effect of sub-chronic exposure to Solignum<sup>®</sup>, a permethrin-containing wood preservative on biochemical and histological changes in liver and kidneys of male Wistar albino rats. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into four groups: control and three treatment concentrations containing 8 rats each. The treatment groups were exposed to Solignum<sup>®</sup> at dose rates of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) respectively per day orally for four weeks. Data obtained from the study showed a progressive increase in the body weight of rats in control whereas, rats treated with different concentrations (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW) of Solignum<sup>®</sup> decreased significantly (≤0.05) especially at the end of the second and fourth week when compared with control. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the relative liver weights of rats treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg BW Solignum<sup>®</sup> while rats treated with 400 mg/kg BW showed a significant increase when compared with control. The relative weight of kidneys in experimental groups increased significantly when compared with control. Biochemical analysis results illustrated that there was a significant increase in marker enzymes namely alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity at the end of the fourth week. Similarly, total bilirubin, serum urea, creatinine and electrolytes (Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup> and Cl<sup>-</sup>) levels increased in a dose dependent manner in treated rats when compared with untreated control group. Serum total protein decreased significantly in experimental rats when compared with control. However, cholesterol and triglycerides showed no significant difference when compared with control. Histopathological examination of hepatocytes in treated rats was characterized by mild periportal inflammatory cells and cytoplasmic degeneration. Furthermore, histopathological examination of rat kidneys revealed inflammatory cells, congested vessel and interstitial hemorrhage in rats treated with Solignum<sup>®</sup>. Therefore, this present study is aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic potentials associated with sub-chronic exposure to the commercial pesticide Solignum<sup>®</sup>.
Highlights
Solignum® is a brand of insecticide and wood preservative commonly used by carpenters, furniture makers and roof builders in general for wood preservation
The oral lethal dose (LD)[50] for permethrin in rats ranged from 430 to 4000 mg/kg and its LD50 is over 270 mg/kg when injected intravenously.[12]
One gallon of commercial wood preservative - Solignum® was purchased from the Timber section of Mile 3 Market while Goya® Olive oil was purchased from Everyday Emporium Super Market all in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Summary
Solignum® is a brand of insecticide and wood preservative commonly used by carpenters, furniture makers and roof builders in general for wood preservation. Insecticide nets are often treated with pyrethroids as part of efforts in combating the scourge of Malaria.[5] Both agricultural and domestic uses of insecticides have resulted in different forms of diseases,[6] and the effects are limited to the immediate users They have high selectivity for insects[7] several studies have described the adverse effects of pyrethroids on different organs and systems of the body, such as the liver, gastro-intestinal, respiratory, nervous and immune systems.[8] Due to their lipophilicity, pyrethroid insecticides favor absorption through the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and confer preferential distribution into lipid-rich internal tissues, including body fat, skin, liver, kidney, ovaries. It has been established that their mechanism of action is by acting on voltage-sensitive sodium channels to prolong the closure time, with consequent reduction in action potential threshold and repetitive firing.[15,16] Since there is little data available on the combined hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of commonly used wood preservatives, the aim of this study was to determine the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic potentials of sub-chronic exposure to Solignum®, a permethrin-containing wood preservative
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