Abstract
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and Trioctyltrimellitate (TOTM) are plasticizers used to increase the flexibility of polyvinyl chloride. Their wide commercial usage carries high risk of human exposure. This work aimed to investigate histological changes of rat’s liver upon DEHP and TOTM exposure. 36 adult male albino rats were classified into 3 equal groups; control group, group II (given DEHP 300 mg/kg) and Group III (given TOTM 300 mg/ kg) orally for 4 weeks. Half of the animals were sacrificed after one day of last dose (subgroups IIA & IIIA) and the remaining were left for another 4 weeks for recovery (subgroups IIB & IIIB). Liver specimens were examined by light and electron microscopes and immunohistochemical stain for hepatocyte paraffin -1 (Hep Par-1). By examination of subgroup IIA all rats’ liver showed focal changes. Dramatically affected lobules revealed loss of lobular architecture with periportal cellular and fatty infiltrations. Hepatocytes had shrunken nuclei, peroxisomes and lipid globules. Subgroup IIB showed mild morphological improvement. Subgroup IIIA showed preserved lobular architecture with vascular congestion. Hepatocytes showed euchromatic nuclei and lipid globules. Subgroup IIIB revealed apparent normal lobular architecture and normal hepatocytes. Comparing to control group, the area % of Hep Par-1 immune reaction in subgroup IIA was highly significant decrease while group IIB was significantly decreased. Subgroup IIIA was significantly decreased. However, group IIIB had no significant difference with control. In conclusion, DEHP induced serious changes on liver; most of these changes were irreversible. TOTM has mild reversible effects. It is recommended to use safely as an alternative plasticizer.
Highlights
Polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC) are used in the production of a wide array of medical devices and the health care industry including blood bags, plasma collection bags, dialysis bags, catheters, and gloves
Hepatocytes appeared with rounded vesicular nuclei and acidophilic cytoplasm, few cells were binucleated
Liver is the main site of plasticizers metabolism and utilization after exposure [19]
Summary
Polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC) are used in the production of a wide array of medical devices and the health care industry including blood bags, plasma collection bags, dialysis bags, catheters, and gloves. This wide range usage of plasticized PVC in devices is attributed to several reasons including flexibility, chemical stability, possibility to sterilize, low cost and wide availability [1]. PVC is a unique polymer because of its ability to accept large quantities of additives to achieve specific qualities It is a relatively rigid and brittle polymer .Flexibility is achieved through the addition of chemical plasticizers [2,3]. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used of them [2,4]
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