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Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) - University of Port Harcourt
ISSN: 1119-8362
Vol. 5, Num. 1, 2001, pp. 83-84
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Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management, Vol. 5, No.
1, June, 2001, pp. 83-84
Investigation Of Acute Toxicological Effects Of Diesels
Fuel In Rats (Rattus rattus) Using Histopathological Methods
*DEDE E. B; KAGBO, H. D
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Health Sciences,University
of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
*Corresponding author
Code Number: ja01014
ABSTRACT
Acute toxicological effects of diesel fuel in rats were investigated. The
LD50 value was determined as 70.6gIkg using rats of 0.2kg body
weight. Histopathological examination of rat tissues after exposure of rat
groups to 0.9% saline (controlgroup), LD50 and LD100 of
diesel fuel for 24 hour revealed black deposits and inplamination respectively
in the pulmonary interstitium, and necrosis of the kidney and liver of rats
administered with diesel fuel. From the international classification of the
toxicity of chemicals based on their LD50 values, diesel fuel
seemed to be relatively harmless, however, there is the need for caution
in the use of the petroleum product as direct effect of it on tissues indicated
toxicity. @ JASEM
Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It has a chemical composition
of 12-20 carbon atoms per mrlecule, and approximately 30% n-paraffin, 45%
cyclocalkanes and 25% aromatics (Frankenberger and Johanson, 1982, speight,
1992).
The toxicological effect of any substance may be explained as an interference
with the cellular or subcellilar process, which leads to a disruption of the
normal metabolism of a living organism upon exposure to such substance.
Petroleum hydrocarbon magnified
their toxic effects by competing with some endogenous metabolites or block
some pathways, this interference may or may not be lethal (kiihuhold, 1980),
The toxic effects of petroleum hydrocarbon are exerted on variety of organs
of living systems such as the lungs, liver and kidney (Ervom, 1983; Akubue,
1997). Most of the available information on the toxic effects of diesel fuel
has been with the type refined and used in developed countries of the world.
And, it is known that the constrtiment of petroleum products reflects the properties
of the crude oil from which they are distillerd (IPCS, 1982). It is against
this backdrop that it is important to inventrgate the toxicological effects
of diesel fuel refrined and used in developing countries. This study examines
the acute toxicological effects of diesel fuel in commercial use in Nigeria
with a viaw to assessing the degree of organ damage at two lethal dozen.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Diesel fuel used as toxicant in
this study was obtained from a commercial filling station (Matelbot oil) in
Port Harcourt .Rat used for the study were obtained from Rivers State University
of science and Technology animal house, and Quality control and Testrys (Q
C & T) Labroatines, all in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The rats were pooled
and fed together in the environment in which the test was carried out for 14
days before the test.
For the purpose of determining
the median lethal doze (LD50), five groups of rats were administered
with different dozes (65gkg, 87kg, 109g Ikg and 131gIkg) of diesel fuel and
observed for 24hours. Animals were rerouted dead when they no longer responded
to prodding and agitation. The number of dead animals were recorded. The median
lethal doze (LD50), it 70.6G Ikg and the lowest doze that killed
all the animals in a group (LD100), ie 109g Ikg, were then administered
to a fresh group of rats, 0.9% saline was aboadministered to a group of rats
which served as the control group. A representative dead animal who taken from
the rats administered with diesel fuel and dissected to obtain the lungs, liver
and kidney. An animal was also killed from the control group and dissected
to obtain the above organs. These organs were preserved in 10% formaldehyde.
The preserved organs were sliced and dehydrated in ethylalcohol with a concentration
range of 50 - 100% and cleared with xylare. The sliced tissues were embedded
in molten paraffin was to form tissue blocks which were sectioned with with
a shandon. AS 3225 rotary macrodome. Shides made with the sectioned tissues
were stained with haematoxyhin /eosin and photographed with the Leitz camera
microscope (Dialux 20 moded).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The histopathohgical study of the
lung of rats administered with diesel fuel showed induced lesions. There were
deposits of black materials in the lung interstrtum of those administered with
the medium lethal doze (LD50). This feature has been reported as
a manifestation of aspiration lipoid preanumd following petroleum product providing
(Becklake, 1979). Furthermore, those administered with the linger doze (LD100)
showed diffuse interstitial pulrionay fibrosis this caused diminished acration
of the lungs (atelectasis ),with conoeqnuent pulmonary hypoxia.
Table 1.
Tissue
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ld50
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ld100
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Toxicological effect.
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Lung
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Deposit of black materials
in the pulmonary inteshtium (plate1)
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Heary infiltration of alveolar
sepatae by inflammatory cell
(plate 2)
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The black deposits are
consistent with the chemical histopathology of aspiration lipoid prieumonia
(Becklake, 1979). Infiltration of the septae is a cause of diffuse
interstitial fibrosis and pulmonary
Hypoxia.
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Liver
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Narrowing of sinuses
(plate 3)
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Severe hepatocellelar necrosis
(plate 4)
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Acute hepatic injury. This
shows that Diesel fuel is a hepatotoxin
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kidney
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Disrupted
tubular necnisin
(plate 5)
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Diffusely
Necrotic tubular cell,
(plate 6 )
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Acute renal failure
Diesel fuel is a neptrotoxin
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Death caused by petroleum product
poisoning has been ascribed more to pulmonary hypoxia than to induced damage
in other organ systems (Ervin, 1983). Examination of the liver showed a doze
dependent hepatocellular neurosis in the rats. Jeffries (1979) defined hepaloxias
as any agent that cause liver injury after a relatively short period, and
which may cause liver cell necrosis alone or with actered enzyme activity
and biting tract dysfemetion. From this study, diesel fuels. Texaco nephropathy
refers to any adverse alteration in structure and function of renal tubular
from exposure to exogenous chemical. It presents as tubular dysfunction,
acute renal failure and, if exposure is prolonged, chronic renal failure. Tubular
necrosis had been reported to be a common cause of acute renal failure (Anderson
and Schria, 1991).
This study has therefore confirmed previous reports they diesel fuel and
indeed other petroleum hydrocarbon are nephrotoxic and could cause acute
real failure (Barrientos teal, 1977, Emmerson, 1979, Anderson Schrier, 1991.)
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