Examination of the effects of ozone and thymoquinone on apoptosis and CD68 immunoreactivity in liver tissue of experimental formaldehyde administered rats

Formaldehyde (FA) causes damage to tissues, activates oxidative stress, and reduces antioxidant levels. Thymoquinone (TQ) and Ozone (O3) improve the damage caused by oxidant exposure. This study aims to reveal the damage caused by FA exposure to blood and liver by biochemical markers, TUNEL method histopathologically, and CD68 cell density measurement and to reveal to what extent TQ and O3, which are individual antioxidant acting molecules, alter the damage caused by FA exposure both when used separately and when used together. In the study, 56 Sprague-Dawley male rats aged 8-10 weeks and weighing between 270-300 g were used in the study. AST, ALT, total antioxidant (TAS), and total oxidant (TOS) levels were determined in serum. In addition, liver tissues were examined for total antioxidant (TAS), and total oxidant (TOS) levels. TUNEL method was applied to determine apoptotic cells while CD68 cell density changes were revealed in liver tissues by immunohistochemical methods. FA exposure caused an increase in serum AST and ALT levels, a decrease in TAS levels, an increase in TOS levels in serum and liver of experimental animals, an increase in TUNEL positivity, and CD68 cell density. TQ and O3 given as antioxidants significantly corrected biochemical and histopathological changes in serum and liver. As a result; TQ and O3 suppress the oxidative damage caused by FA exposure and reverse the histopathological deteriorations.