The ameliorative effect of Vitamin E on hepatotoxicity induced by the herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in pregnant rats and their fetuses.

Abstract

Vitamin E was investigated for its ability to prevent or alleviate the herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) induced hepatotoxicity in pregnant rats and their fetuses. Pregnant rats were divided into five groups (10 rats each): control group (did not receive any treatments), oil group (rats administered corn oil), vitamin E group (rats received vitamin E (100 mg/kg b.wt.)), 2,4-D group (animals administrated 1/30 LD50 of 2,4-D (100 mg/kg b.wt.)) and 2,4-D + vit E group, (rats received both 2,4-D and vitamin E together in the same dosages). Dosing occurred daily, from gestation day 1 to 19 through gastric intubation. Vitamin E supplementation appeared to counteract the herbicide related significant decrease in maternal and fetal body weight gain. Also, vitamin E treatment showed improvement in the liver functions of pregnant rats; where serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were increased under the effect of 2,4-D while serum levels of total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly reduced. Furthermore, 2,4-D induced histological alterations of the maternal and fetal livers were relatively ameliorated by the administration of vitamin E. The present results suggested that vitamin E has beneficial effects and can diminish the hepatic damages observed due to 2,4-D exposure in mothers and their fetuses.