Abstract
Abstract: This study was performed to identify the histological changes in the Liver and kidney resulting from formaldehyde injection and to investigate the possible protective role of selenium in repairing the hepatic and renal damage. Twenty four albino male mice were included in this study; intraperitoneal administration was adopted. Mice were divided into three groups (n=8). Group 1 mice received 5ml/kg. water for injection daily for five days (Control Group). Group 2 received 30mg/kg. of formaldehyde daily for five days. Group 3 (Cure Group) received formaldehyde daily for five days followed by daily administration of selenium (100μg/kg) for the next five days. Specimens of liver and kidney were evaluated histologically by Hematoxylin and Eosin and Mallory Trichrome stains. The result showed that formaldehyde exposure induced many histological changes in the liver and kidney. In formaldehyde treated group, the hepatocytes exhibited a vacuolated cytoplasm, dilated congested blood sinusoids, congested blood vessels and the von kupffer cells became more prominent. In the renal cortex, some glomeruli had dilated Bowman’s capsule space. The renal cortex exhibited a vacuolated cytoplasm of proximal convoluted tubules with loss of integrity of their brush border; also congested renal blood vessels and little damage of renal tubules were observed. Treatment with selenium led to a marked improvement of most of the previously mentioned changes as disappearance of cytoplasmic vacuolation of hepatocytes and preservation of renal tissue in a way that resembles the control. It can be concluded that, the short term exposure to formaldehyde can cause remarkable damage in the liver and kidney tissues; treatment with selenium as an antioxidant agent was effective in reversing the damage caused by formaldehyde in both liver and kidney.