The light microscopic results of treated young rabbits showed swelling of liver cells with marked vacuolation of cytoplasm, focal necrosis of some cells, karyolysis of some nuclei, dilatation of both central and portal veins and increase of the portal fibrosis and inflammatory cells. In addition of these results the liver cells of adult treated rabbit showed eosinophilia with pykotic nuclei, destruction of the hepatocyte membrane and dilated blood sinusoids. The electron microscopic results showed that in the young group there was marked cytoplasmic vacuolation, increased the number of swollen and degenerated mitochondria, increased the lysosomes, and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) with dilated cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) in addition to narrowing of the bile canaliculi with destruction of the adjacent desmosomes. While the adult group showed the same results, in addition to increased the lipid droplets, condensed chromatin with karyolysis of some nuclei and destruction of hepatocyte microvilli. These results suggested that AL is one of the most toxic metals and the toxicity is more in the adult than in the young, so it must be taken in consideration and avoided. |
