Hepatotoxic Effects of Potassium Bromate on Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the histopathologic effects of potassium bromate (KBrO3) on the liver cells of rats following oral administration. Method: Twenty young Wistar rats of weights 196-215g were divided into four groups. The control group A was orally administered with 1ml of distilled water daily; the experimental groups B, C and D were orally administered with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight/day dosages of KBrO3 for 35 days. Both the control and experimental groups were sacrificed using the chloroform inhalation method at the end of study period.Results: Rats which received 200 mg kg^-1 b.wt. of KBrO3 died within the 20th day of administration. The body weights were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the experimental groups from the 3^rd to the 5^th week of study while the relative weight of their liver were not affected compared to the control group. Histopathological examination of the experimental groups indicated; little sinusoidal dilatation in rats treated with 50 mg kg^-1 b.wt. of KBrO3; hepatic vacuolation, large sinusoidal dilatation, degenerative changes and cellular congestion in rats, which received 100, 200 mg kg^-1 b.wt. of KBrO3 compared with the control group, which maintained normal kidney tissues. These histological alterations appeared marked in rats administered with 200 mg kg^-1 b.wt. of KBrO3.Conclusion: The present study indicated dose-dependent, histopathologic effects on the liver cells of rats administered with KBrO3. Our findings therefore suggest that chronic KBrO3 consumption may put the liver at some risk of adverse histopathological conditions.

Keywords: Liver, histopathology, potassium bromate, hepatotoxicity.