| Abstrakt: |
A naturally-derived cyanotoxin, cylindrospermopsin (CYN), present in freshwater systems, poses a threat to human health due to potential hepatotoxicity. The present study aimed to determine the hepatotoxic effects of CYN on male Wistar rats. Following ethical clearance, 35 rats were divided into five groups. Test groups were administered with pre-prepared solutions to provide three doses of CYN: 0.175 μg/kg, 0.140 μg/kg, and 0.105 μg/kg. Well-water collected from Padaviya (0.161 μg/kg of CYN) was given to the environmental-exposure group (EN) and distilled water was administered to the control. The total duration of exposure was 90 days. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 60, 90 days. Aspartate amino-transferase (AST), aspartate alaninetransferase (ALT), and full blood count (FBC) were analyzed. At 90 days, hepatic tissue samples were taken for histology. The mean body weight of the treated and control groups of rats gradually increased until the 90th day. A statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in increment of body weights was observed in CYN-treated rats, compared to the control, at 12th and 13th weeks. Relative weights of the livers of treated groups were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of the control group. The highest AST and ALT concentrations were recorded in rats given a CYN dose of 0.175 μg/kg. Haematology revealed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in monocyte and lymphocyte counts in the EN group given well-water compared to the control. Ballooning degeneration, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, lobular haemorrhage and necrosis, perivenular inflammation, and sinusoidal congestion were observed in the livers of treated groups. The findings show that prolonged exposure to CYN contaminated water leads to hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
