Paraquat Induced Toxicity in Adrenals in Albino Mice

Objectives: The current study aims to observe the histological effects of paraquat on the adrenal Glands of the mice after single exposure to sub-lethal dose of the drug.Materials and Method: Forty male mice, fifteen control (group I) and twenty-five experimental (group II) were used.Each experimental animal (group II) was given a single dose of paraquat i.e 20 mg/kg dissolved in 0.2 ml normal saline as an intraperitoneal injection, while for the control group (I) each animal was given an equal amount of normal saline by the same route.The exposure duration for the study was comprised of ten days.On the tenth day all the animal (control and experimental) were slaughtered.Whole adrenals were removed, fixed in 10 % formal saline for 48 hours and processed for routine histological studies.Results: Histological examination of the experimental group showed that the adrenal cortical sinusoids contained large number of erythrocytes, suggesting congestion of the organ; similar changes were observed in blood vessels of medulla.Conclusion: Findings of the current study demonstrate congestion in the sinusoids.It can be assumed that this congestion was due to the formation of peroxynitrite anion (ONOO -) which may have major role in the progression of the paraquat toxicity.