Dose-Dependent Effects of Paraquat on C-reactive protein, Some Lipid Profile Parameters and Histology of Tissues in Male Albino Rats

Paraquat is a highly toxic and widely used herbicide with no antidote. Its toxicity in man and animals has been reported to cause severe acute and long term health problems which eventually could lead to death. Measurement of blood C-Reactive Protein level (CRP) serves as a useful screen for infections and inflammatory diseases. Since it is known that paraquat exerts its toxic effects through generation of reactive oxygen species which causes injury to the cells thereby causing inflammation, this study was designed to determine the dose-dependent effects of paraquat on C-reactive protein, cholesterol, triglycerides and histology of liver and kidney in rats. Thirty albino rats weighing between 150 g and 200 g grouped into five groups of six rats in each were used. Rats in group A serves as control and were given feed and water only freely. Rats in group B, C, D and E were treated orally with 15 mg/kg (below sublethal dose), 25 mg/kg (sub-lethal dose), 35 mg/kg (below lethal dose) and 45 mg/kg (below lethal dose) of paraquat dichloride respectively for a period of fourteen days. The blood plasma collected was analyzed for CRP (using an immune-turbidimetric assay method), cholesterol and triglycerides while liver and kidney excised from sacrificed rats were used for histopathological studies. The result obtained showed that the concentration of CRP (12.38 ± 0.09 mg/L), cholesterol (8.61 ± 0.49 mg/L) and triglycerides (189.47 ± 2.59 mg/L) in control group was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the other groups. The higher the concentration of paraquat administered, the higher its toxicity and the higher the levels of CRP, cholesterol and triglycerides. Histopathological findings revealed some pathologic conditions ranging from diffuse vacuolar degeneration of hepatocyte and glomerular mesangiolysis in the liver and kidney of paraquattreated group respectively. This present study therefore suggests that the induction of inflammation and oxidative damage by paraquat could be accompanied by elevated C-reactive protein, cholesterol and triglycerides in albino rats.