Ultrastructural pathology of kidney and liver in citrinin and endosulfan treated pregnant rats

摘要

In the present investigation, citrinin (CIT) (10 mg/kg feed) and endosulfan (1 mg/kg bw) were administered orally alone and in combination to pregnant Wistar rats from gestational day 6 to 20 to evaluate the ultrastructural alterations in renal and hepatic tissues. In CIT fed group, the consistent renal changes, chiefly recorded in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) lining epithelial cells, included mitochondrial damage, denudation and loss of microvilli, degenerating nuclei with margination of chromatin and loss of nucleoli. Depletion of cytoplasmic organelles was also recorded. Distal convoluted tubules (DCT) also revealed mitochondrial pleomorphism and damage. Glomeruli showed loss of nuclei in the podocytes and presence of proteinaceous material in the urinary spaces. In liver, mitochondrial swelling with indistinct cristae was noticed in CIT treated animals. In endosulfan group, liver was predominantly affected showing enlarged, swollen and pleomorphic mitochondria, cytoplasmic vacuolations,frequent presence of lipid droplets, indistinct nuclear membrane, chromatin margination and at times nuclear condensation and fragmentation in hepatocytes. The renal changes were mitochondrial damage in PCT epithelial cells. In the combination group, the hepatic and renal ultrastructural alterations, though of similar nature to those of the individual groups were more severe. It may be concluded that simultaneous exposure with both, CIT and endosulfan, the severity of ultrastructural changes in renal and hepatic tissues were enhanced possibly due to their additive interaction in pregnant Wistar rats.