Histological, biochemical and chromosomal aberrations of pituitary gland induced by acrylamide in male rats

This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of Acrylamide (ACR) on the pituitary gland and bone marrow of male rats. A total of 40 male rats were used and randomly divided into four groups, each including 12 rats. The first and second groups were considered as control and were kept for 6 and 8 weeks. The third group was administrated orally with Acrylamide at two doses/week as 4mg/kg.b.w for 6 weeks. The fourth group was administrated orally with Acrylamide at two doses/week of 4mg/kg.b.w for 8 weeks. After the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed, then their pituitary glands were removed and processed for histological examinations. Histological examination showed degeneration, congestion of the blood vessels, deposition of collagen fibers, heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells, and having pitucyte embedded with collagen. After 8 weeks post-treatment, the results showed pitucytes with vaculated cytoplasm, necrosis with degenerated pitucytes, irregular distribution of pitucytes nuclei and hemorrhage. Pituitary sections stained with PAS stain in control rats showed the homogenous distribution of the mucopoly saccharides and all cells within anterior and posterior regions. While sections of rats after 8 weeks post-treatment showed the homogenous distribution of the mucopoly saccharides in the posterior and moderate in the anterior regions. The results of chromosomal aberration in male rats’ bone marrow cells treated with 4 mg/kg.bw after 8 weeks showed dicentric chromosomes, fragment centromeric separation, and ring chromosomes. The results showed a significant increase in serum T4 and a decrease in serum TSH level of groups exposed to acrylamide in both 6 and 8 weeks periods compared with control groups.