EVALUATION OF BENZENE INDUCED HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ALTERATION IN RAT.

Human exposure to benzene is associated with multiple adverse health effects. Its exposure is known to affect many critical organs including the hematological, hepatic, renal, lung, and cardiac functions. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential of benzene as hepatotoxicant. We used Wistar rat as a model and benzene was administrated orally at the doses of 50mg/Kg body weight/day and 100mg/Kg body weight/day for subchronic study of 90 days. Using diagnostic kit, liver function test which are biomarker for early detection, antioxidant parameters were estimated and compared with unexposed rats. Liver enzymes (ALP, GGT, AST and ALT) in treated rats were significant higher compared to control. The benzene exposures also led to significant reductions in antioxidant enzyme activities and significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Also, on microscopic examination, the liver tissues of experimental groups exhibited severe damage like sinusoidal dilation and necrosis. Subchronic exposure to benzene on rat has potential to develop hepatotoxicity by altering liver enzymes activity.