Paraquat Induced Hepatotoxicity in Albino Mice

Paraquat is a herbicide, primarily used to control the growth of weeds and grass. This study describes the histological effects of paraquat on the liver of the mice after single exposure to sub-lethal dose of the drug. Forty male mice, fifteen control (group A) and twenty-five experimental (group B) were used. Each experimental animal received intraperitoneal injection of a single dose (20 mg/kg body weight) of paraquat dissolved in 0.2 ml of saline, while the control group was given an equal amount of saline by the same route. All animals were sacrificed on the tenth day of the experiment. The liver was removed, 3 mm(2) pieces from it were fixed in 10% formal saline and processed for routine histological studies. Histological examination of the preparations from the treated group showed that the sinusoids and central veins of the liver were dilated and stuffed with blood cells, indicative of congestion. The liver parenchyma was infiltrated with inflammatory cells, mostly lymphocytes and macrophages. Fatty degenerative changes were also observed in the hepatocytes.