Experimental hepatotoxicity produced by ethinyl estradiol

Abstract

Ethinyl oestradiol (EO) is the most commonly used as a component of oral contraceptive and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in women. However, its excessive and prolonged use may cause cytotoxicity, including cancer of many organs. Hence, the present study was performed to produce the experimental hepatotoxicity in female albino rats. EO was administered to different groups of rats, respectively @ 250, 500 and 750 μg/kg body weight, orally, weekly for 16 and 20 weeks. One group of rats was administered with saline alone to serve as control. The rats were sacrificed after their respective experimental periods, and the livers were collected and preserved in 10% buffered formalin. Later on, the histopathological study of liver tissues was done. On the 17th week, the hepatic tissues showed severe congestion, focal areas of hemorrhage, extreme vacuolation of cytoplasm, distended sinusoids with dilated central veins. Degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes as evidenced by increased cytoplasmic granularity, and dissolution of nuclear materials were seen. On the 21st weeks, these changes were extremely severe and quite conspicuous. Distinct fibrosis was also noticed. EO caused hepatotoxicity, the extent and severity of which were dose and time dependent, indicating that this drug at higher dose after prolonged duration (500 or 750 μg/kg, orally, weekly for 20 weeks) may cause the standard experimental hepatotoxicity in rats.