Immunohistopathological Studies on Rats Injected with CCl4 and Treated with Propolis and Honey Bee

Abstract

Background: liver and kidney play a pivotal role in metabolism of nutrients, drugs, hormones, metabolic waste products and thereby maintaining body homeostasis. The present study was conducted to demonstrate the protective effects of honey and propolis on liver and kidney tissues of rats injected with CCl4. Material and method: rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats in each group). Normal control group: received standard food and water; CCl4 group: injected with CCl40.5 ml/kg b. wt. mixed in olive oil(v/v) twice a weekfor six weeks; CCl4 & honey group: injected with CCl4 0.5 ml/kg b. wt. mixed in olive oil(v/v) twice a week for six weeks and 10% honey in drinking water. CCl4 & Propolis: injected with CCl4 0.5 ml/kg b. wt. mixed in olive oil(v/v) twice a week for six weeks and 200 ml/kg b.wt/rat/day of propolis. After 6 weeks, rats were anesthetized, then liver and kidney organs were collected, washed in normal saline, fixed in 10% formalin, then processed for the histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Results: marked histopathological alterations were observed in CCl4 group, the most common changes were cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, fatty changes, clear vacuolation of renal cells and congested blood vessels. Treatment with honey or propolis improved the histopathological changes induced by CCl4 in liver and kidney tissues of rats. Conclusion: the present study indicated that CCl4 has a toxic effect on liver and kidney tissues, but administration of honey and propolis can protect rats against form the toxic effect of CCl4.