Acute exposure to hymenoxon: electron microscopic study of the mouse liver.
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
Young, male mice (25 to 30 g) were given oral doses of hymenoxon, a sesquiterpene lactone, for 5, 10, or 20 days. Hymenoxon, isolated from Hymenoxys odorata DC, was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water (1:1, v/v) and was administered daily at a dosage level of 100 mg/kg of body weight for 5, 10, or 20 days. Two control groups were maintained; 1 group was given DMSO and water, and 1 group was given water only. Twenty-four hours after the last dosing, the mice were euthanatized and their livers were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Hepatocyte organelles of hymenoxon-treated mice appeared normal although the bile canaliculi contained a fine granular material and membranous structures, including myelin figures. The canaliculi of hymenoxon-treated mice were also markedly dilated, compared with bile canaliculi in the control groups. The mean area of bile canaliculi of the 5-, 10-, and 20-day mice was 14.08 microns2, 15.65 microns2, and 17.56 microns2, respectively, compared with 7.73 microns2 for the canaliculi of DMSO + water-treated mice. The P values were less than 0.001, 0.02, and 0.05 for the 5-, 10-, and 20-day hymenoxon-treated mice, respectively. Seemingly, the mouse was not a good model for studying hepatic ultrastructural changes produced by hymenoxon, using dosages less than or equal to 100 mg/kg/day for 20 days.