Abstract

HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE LUNG INDUCED BY SHORT AND LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO XYLENE

Egwu, Eni Ogbonnia, Finbarrs-Bello, Elizabeth, *Okoronkwo, Samuel Okafor, Folawiyo, Mashood Abiola and *Nwankwo, M. O.

Abstract

Inhalation of xylene is a dangerous type of exposure to this chemical. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of xylene on the histoarchitecture of the lung. Twenty five wistars were used for this work. The rats were randomly divided into five groups A, B, C, D and E of five rats each. Group A served as the control and was not to exposed to xylene, while B, C, D, and E was exposed to xylene for 14 days, 28 days, 42 days and 56 days respectively. The animals had difficulty in breathing, wheezed and coughed. The animals were sacrificed after 14 days, 28 days, 42 days and 56 days and the lung harvested and processed using normal histological technique with Papanicolaou staining and Pararosanilin-Toluidine B staining procedures. The result revealed that xylene fume altered the histoarchitecture of lung and esterase and collagen wall. This ranged from mild emphysematous change, inflammation of cells, Collapse of the collagen wall and distortion of esterase. There was significant increase in weight of the animals in all the groups. In conclusion, xylene fume altered the histology and histochemistry of lung tissues and had no effect on body weight of the animals.

Keywords: Xylene, Lung, Histoarchitecture, Histochemistry, pneumocytes.