Received: 2 Oct, 2012 Accepted: 16 Dec, 2012

  Background & Aims: Aluminum is a very consumable metal that has caused many disorders in different organs of body. In this study were evaluated chronic effects of aluminum chloride ultrastructurully, morphologically and morphometrically on rabbit’s liver tissue.

  Materials & Methods: 20 rabbits were classified into control and treatment groups in equal numbers. 12. 5 mg/kg aluminum chloride to treatment group and deionized water to control group in the same dose were injected intraperitoneally for 7 weeks in anesthetic condition. Tissue sections were prepared for studying by electron and light microscopes according standard methods. Synchronic quantitative and qualitative studies were performed by evaluation of the prepared images and became morphometry by statistical analysis of the results.

  Results: Morphologically, infiltration of lymphocytic cells, fatty change of hepatocytes, fibrosis around central vein in liver and ultrastructurally, mitochondrial vacuolation, degeneration of rough endoplasmic reticulum and hyper chromatic state of hepatocytes were seen. Also morphometry showed significant decrease (p<0. 05) of half diameter of lobules and volume fractions of organelles of hepatocytes in treatment group comparing control group.

  Conclusion: Previous researches revealed different tissue effects of aluminum by some mechanisms like lipids peroxidation, cell membrane and nuclear DNA damages. In present study perhaps production of free radicals, disorders of glycogen and protein are the most causes of damage by aluminum.

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2012: 23(7): 819 ISSN: 1027-3727