Histological investigation of genotoxic effects on the neonatal rats liver of aflatoxin b1 exposure rats during pregnancy and lactation

Aflatoxins are a kind of fungal toxin synthesized and released by Aspergillus sp. as a result of food products being dried in faulty and / or false environment and play an important role in food safety. Transplasentational and lactational transition of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in recent years and its genotoxic effects have been reported in various investigations; a comparative study of liver developmental effects is not sufficient. In our study, genotoxic potential effects on the livers of 21-day-old postnatal rats were planned in four separate groups by maternal AFB1 exposure in newborns and lactation period by experimental transplantation of AFB1 (50 μg/kg i.p.) to maternal rats. (Control groups: Newborn, Lactation group, Experimental groups: AFB1 Newborn and Lactation group). Proliferation and apoptotic indexes, hematoxylin-eosin, Mallory-azan and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stainings, immunohistochemical proliferation of PCNA, and immunofluorescence TUNEL staining for apoptosis were established for investigating liver histological alterations. In addition, Hscores were obtained for CK19 and AFP to observe progenitor cells and early hepatocarcinoma for immunohistochemistry. Biochemically; malondialdehyde and catalase assays were performed in the liver. When compared with body weights and liver weights, only significant decrease (p <0.001) was observed in newborn experimental groups in the findings. In light microscopic evaluations, hematopoietic cell populations were detected in the AFB1 newborn experimental group with dilation in the sinusoidal form, dilatation in the form of occasional enlargement, loss of endothelial integrity, deterioration of the cord structures. Vena centralis endothelial structure was found in some areas with picnotic nucleated hepatocytes and multinucleated paleocyte communities in which the integrity of locality deteriorated, vacuolization in hepatocytes increased, and dense lipit structures in cytoplasm. In the portal areas, there was a slight increase in connective tissue in Vena centralis peripherally, with less intense PAS positive sites, with lymphocyte infiltration in the connective tissue. In the lactation AFB1 experimental groups, the enlargement of the sinusoidal structure, the central areas where the integrity of Vena centralis deteriorated, hepatocytes were distinguished from the pale colored dense vacuolar structure. In addition, collagen fibers were more prominent in perivascular connective tissue areas. TUNEL positive staining was observed in the neonatal AFB1 experimental group, especially in the vena centralis area, especially in the areas IV adjacent to the endothelium. A significant increase (p <0.001) in apoptotic indices was found in the newborn experimental group. PCNA and proliferative index results were found not to be statistically significant between newborn and lactation groups with significant decrease in all experimental groups. CK19 immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in both groups compared with the control, whereas AFP immunoreactivity was found to be statistically significant (p <0.001) in AFB1 group in neonatal and lactation groups. When the experimental groups were compared with each other, a significant increase was observed in the newborn experimental group. Significant increase in CAT level in the newborn AFB1 group with a statistically significant decrease in MDA level compared with the control; Significant increase in MDA and CAT in lactation experimental groups was observed. As a result; It is thought that maternally applied AFB1 causes more intraperitoneal growth retardation with transplacental transplantation than transplantation in maternal milk and also causes apoptotic cell death, early hepatic hepatocellular carcinoma with genotoxic effects and decrease proliferation with hepatic root cell effect.