Ultrastructural changes in rat liver by methyleugenol and evaluation of some biochemical parameters

Authors: AYŞEGÜL ÇERKEZKAYABEKİR, GÜLNUR KIZILAY, FİGEN ERTAN

Abstract: The present study investigated the effect of methyleugenol, a food flavoring and fragrance agent, on the livers of laboratory rats. Doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg/day of methyleugenol (in 0.5% methylcellulose) were administered intragastrically (IG) to 2 dose groups for 10 days alongside a control group (n = 10 for each group). Gains in body weight were not statistically significant for either dose. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities decreased (P < 0.05) for both dose groups, but AST (aspartate aminotransferase) activity decreased significantly (P < 0.05) only in the 30 mg/kg/day methyleugenol dose group. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity did not change significantly in either group. The total amount of glucose remained unchanged, but glycogen in the liver decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the 30 mg/kg/day methyleugenol dose group. There was also an increase of swelling in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum sacs (sER), electron dense accumulations in the sER, cytoplasmic vacuolization, a slight increase of mitochondria and lysosomes, and invaginations in the nucleus membranes of hepatocytes. Extensions in bile canaliculi and increasing microvilli of bile canaliculi in the liver were also observed. These findings indicate the ultrastructural toxic effect of methyleugenol on rat livers in 10 and 30 mg/kg/day doses. Therefore, we may speculate that the toxic effect of methyleugenol needs to be examined in detail.

Keywords: Methyleugenol, liver, ultrastructure, ALT, AST, LDH, ASP, glucose, glycogen, rat

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