الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of thymol against hematological, biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations induced by methomyl toxicity in male rats.
Sixty apparently healthy male albino rats were divided equally into six groups (10 rats per each) as follows; Control group: administered 0.5 ml distilled water and 0.5 ml sunflower oil, M- intoxicated group administered methomyl (4 mg/kg B.Wt.), T50- treated group: administered thymol (50 mg/kg B.Wt.), T100- treated group: administered thymol (100 mg/kg B.Wt.), MT50- co- treated group: received M (4 mg/kg B.Wt.) and T50 (50 mg/kg B.Wt.) and MT100- co- treated group: received M (4 mg/kg B.Wt.) and T100 (100 mg/kg B.Wt.). All treatments were administered orally once per day, three times weekly day after day for eight weeks.
Clinically, no mortalities were documented in control and treated groups throughout the experimental period. The treated groups exhibited normal growth rate throughout the experimental period except M-treated rats showed some little loss of appetite.
There were not any observed alterations in CBC reports between all treated groups during the experimental period except, there were a significant decrease in platelets count in MT50- treated group at the end of 4th week post- treatment. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in platelets count in M- intoxicated rats as compared to the control at the end of 8th week post- treatment. While, the co- treatment with T50 and T100 normalized the platelets count as compared with toxic group.
Methomyl administration caused a significant increase in serum ALT and AST activities at the end of 4th week as well as GGT activity at the end of 8th week in comparison with the control. While, the co- treatment with T50 and T100 resulted in significant decrease in the activities of these enzymes as compared to M- intoxicated group.
Serum total protein and albumin levels showed a significant decrease in M- treated group only at the end of 8th week. In addition, there were a significant increase in total protein and globulin levels in T100- treated rats. While, MT50 and MT100- co- treated rats showed a significant increase in total protein and albumin levels as compared to the M- intoxicated rats.
Serum total and indirect bilirubin levels showed a significant increase M- intoxicated rats at the end of 4th week besides, a significant increase in direct bilirubin at the end of 8th week. The co- treatment with T50 and T100 showed a significant decrease in their levels in comparison with the toxic group.
The administration of methomyl resulted in a significant increase in the serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C during the experimental periods in comparison with the control group. HDL- C showed a significant increase in both MT50 and MT100- co- treated rats at the end of 4th week post- treatment. While, the co- treatment with T50 and T100 showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol and LDL- C levels as matched with the intoxicated group in close to normal control levels at the end of 4th and 8th weeks.
Serum urea and creatinine levels showed a significant increase in M-intoxicated rats at the end of 8th week post- treatment. While, The co- treatment with T50 and T100 returned serum creatinine level to its normal value.
Regarding to Oxidant biomarkers the T100- treated rats showed a significant increase in GSH level and SOD activity at the end of 4th week post- treatment. While, M- intoxicated rats showed significant increase in serum MDA level and SOD activity at the end of 8th week post- treatment as compared to the control. The mixed treatment of toxic group with thymol at two doses normalized the MDA level and SOD activity.
Referring to semen analysis, there was a significant decrease in the serum testosterone level with a significant increase in the percentage of sperm abnormalities in M- intoxicated rats if compared with the control at the end of 8th week post- treatment. But, the co- treatment with thymol at two doses resulted in non- significant increase in testosterone level as compared to M- intoxicated group and returned the sperm abnormalities to normal percentage.
Histopathological results showed hepatic lesions of M- intoxicated rats were mainly consisted of cytoplasmic vacuolation of the hepatocytes with peiportal and midzonal hepatocytic necrosis associated with mononuclear cell infiltration and congestion in blood vessels. Besides, increase in the thickness of portal area with formation of newly formed bile ductules at the end of 8th week post- treatment.
Kidneys of intoxicated rats showed vacuolation, renal casts, narrowing of tubular lumen with mononuclear cell infiltration. In addition, there were congestion and perivascular edema.
The testicular tissue showed degeneration of seminiferous tubules with incomplete spermatogenesis, corrugation of tubular basement membrane and desquamation of germinal epithelium in tubular lumen.
The co-treated groups with thymol at two doses showed the same lesions but less in the severity and distribution if compared with the intoxicated group at the end of 4th and 8th week post- treatment.
There were strong caspase- 3 immune reaction in hepatic, renal and testicular tissues of M- intoxicated rats if compared with the negative immune reaction of control rats. While, the co- treated groups with thymol at two doses decreased the caspase-3 immune reactivity to be mild in comparison with the toxic group.