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Biochemical, histological, and neuro-physiological effects of long-term aluminum chloride exposure in rats

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of daily sublethal doses of aluminum (Al) on hematological, physiological, biochemical, and behavioral changes in male albino Wistar rats. In addition, Al tissue accumulation and histopathological changes in the cerebral cortex, liver, and kidney were examined. The rats were randomly separated into three groups. Group 1 included rats who received the median deadly dose (LD50) of aluminum chloride (AlCl3), group 2 served as the control, and group 3 was treated with a non-lethal dose of AlCl3 (1.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 45 days. At defined time intervals, hepatic and renal specific enzymes and biochemical activity were measured. In addition, we examined Al accumulation, the condition of the liver via histological methods, and the impact on the cerebral cortex. In comparison to the controls, rats treated with AlCl3 exhibited a rise in AST, ALT, and ALP enzyme activity. We also saw a significant decrease in body weight and a decrease in total protein, lipids, cholesterol, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), RBCs, and Hb levels compared to the control group. Histopathological examination suggested severe changes in the liver, kidney, and cerebral cortex of the rats. The current study indicates that sublethal daily exposure to AlCl3 causes hazardous effects, as increased Al concentration in the body is shown to induce detrimental biochemical and histological changes as well as decreased body weight. Therefore, careful attention should be given to treatments requiring long exposure in patients and the potential for accumulation via food and drinking.

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Acknowledgments

The authors also acknowledge to Taif University Researchers supporting number (TURSP-2020/21), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This study was funded by by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. G:1302–130-1440.The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Mansour Attiah Al-Hazmi

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Jeddah University (KAU), Khulais, Saudi Arabia

    Sayed M. Rawi

  3. Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Reham Z. Hamza

  4. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Reham Z. Hamza

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  1. Mansour Attiah Al-Hazmi
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Contributions

Mansour Attiah Al-Hazmi conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, prepared figures and/or tables, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, and approved the final draft.

Sayed M Rawi conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, and approved the final draft.

Reham Z.Hamza conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, and approved the final draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reham Z. Hamza.

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Conflict of interest

Author declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Ethical committee of Deanship of Taif University (Approval number: 42–0072). the male rats were sacrificed under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia; efforts were made to reduce stress and pain to the mice, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Significance statement

Aluminum is regularly taken up with the daily diet. In this manuscript, we present the scientifically documented harmful effects of aluminum accumulation on histological and biochemical health problem,with particular attention to its putative role in brain, liver and kidney.

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Al-Hazmi, M.A., Rawi, S.M. & Hamza, R.Z. Biochemical, histological, and neuro-physiological effects of long-term aluminum chloride exposure in rats. Metab Brain Dis 36, 429–436 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-020-00664-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-020-00664-6

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