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Thorium-induced Anatomical and Histopathological Changes in Liver of Swiss Mice

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Abstract

Objective

Present study is aimed to investigate the anatomical and histopathological changes in liver tissues of Swiss albino male mice, one month after intravenous administration of thorium (232Th; 4 and 40 mg/kg).

Methods

Synchrotron X-ray micro-CT imaging, CD31 immuno-cytochemistry, hematoxylin & eosin staining and Periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed to study changes in liver anatomy, blood vessels/capillaries, histology and glycogen content of liver, respectively.

Results

Synchrotron X-ray micro-CT imaging of liver showed loss of blood vessels in mice treated with thorium (4 mg/kg), which was more prominent at higher dose of thorium (40 mg/kg). These thorium-induced changes in liver were correlated with the decrease in CD31 positive cells and loss of tissue architecture. A dose-dependent increase in glycogen content was also observed in the liver of thorium-treated mice.

Conclusion

Our results provide novel insight about the effects of thorium on liver, which may have significant implications in understanding the mechanism of thorium thorium-induced hepatotoxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 085, India

    Rakhee Yadav, Ashish K. Agrawal, Manjoor Ali, Amit Kumar & Badri N. Pandey

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 094, India

    Rakhee Yadav, Amit Kumar, S. C. Gadkari & Badri N. Pandey

  3. Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 085, India

    Ashish K. Agrawal, Balwant Singh, Yogesh Kashyap, Amar Sinha & S. C. Gadkari

Authors
  1. Rakhee Yadav
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  2. Ashish K. Agrawal
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  3. Manjoor Ali
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  4. Amit Kumar
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  5. Balwant Singh
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  6. Yogesh Kashyap
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  7. Amar Sinha
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  8. S. C. Gadkari
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  9. Badri N. Pandey
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Correspondence to Badri N. Pandey.

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Yadav, R., Agrawal, A.K., Ali, M. et al. Thorium-induced Anatomical and Histopathological Changes in Liver of Swiss Mice. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 10, 97–106 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-018-0352-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-018-0352-6

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