AMELIORATIVE ROLE OF VITAMIN E AGAINST HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM INDUCED HEPATO– NEPHROTOXICITY IN LABORATORY CHICKS: A HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Chromium is a widespread environmental waste. It is an industrial contaminant with teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on animals and human. Present study was carried out to evaluate the potential protective effect of vitamin E on the hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity generated by potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in laboratory chicks. The histopathological evaluation of liver and kidney showed severe changes in chicks treated with K2Cr2O7. Liver of the K2Cr2O7 treated group showed major histological alterations, such as necrosis of hepatocytes, dilatation of sinusoids with congestion of blood vessels and hemorrhage. In chromium intoxicated chicks, congestion and hemorrhages in renal tissues, hemorrhages in kidney parenchyma, glomeruli segmentation and swelling of glomeruli with infiltration of leucocytes (Glomerulitis) were seen. Administration of vitamin E protects the liver and kidney damaged by K2Cr2O7 as evidenced by appearance of normal histological structures, although hemorrhage was also noticed. Vitamin E treatment showed significant improvement in the histopathological picture. It could be concluded that potassium dichromate is potent hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. Vitamin E has a potential protective effect to reverse the toxicity of K2Cr2O7 and has the ability to improve the hepatic and renal tissue damage associated with K2Cr2O7 intoxication.