Title: Formalin Induces Alterations in Body and Lung Weights and Histological Structure of the Lung of Adult Male Albino Rats and Amelioration by Mint Aqueous Extract
Authors: Basma Amer El-Sayed Alsaid, Amina Ali Saleh Kalila, Azab Elsayed Azab
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
Pages: 74-84
Publication Date: 2024/08/28
Abstract:
Background: Anatomy departments utilize formalin to harden museum specimens, and cadavers. Moreover, it is a component of pressed wood goods, paper, textile fibers, adhesives, plastics, carpeting, foam insulation, disinfectants, nail hardeners, and some finger paints. Additionally, it is used to stop germs from spoiling fish, fruits, milk, beverages, ice cream, sweetmeat, and spices. Because the respiratory epithelial cells are damaged and lose their ability to function, it leads in acute lung injury, a cytotoxic reaction in the respiratory system. The purpose of this study was to assess how formalin affected the adult male albino rats' body and lung weights as well as the histological structure of their lungs, and how this effect was mitigated by an aqueous extract of mint leaves. Materials and Methods: For this experiment, thirty adult male albino rats were procured from the Libyan Medical Research Centre located in the city of Zawia. Three equal groups were formed out of the animals. As a control group, Group I was given drinking water. Group II was the formalin group; for 30 days, they were given solely formalin at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW. Groups III were treated as a formalin + mint group, receiving 10 mg/kg BW of formalin for one hour, followed by 30 days of daily dosages of 600 mg/kg BW of mint extract. Gastric tubes were used to deliver all samples orally. On the 30th day, the animals were weighed, anesthetized, then scarified by cervical dislocation, and dissected. This was done 24 hours after the last dose. The lungs were extracted, weighed, and some of the lung tissue was preserved for 72 hours in 10% neutral buffered formalin, followed by dehydration and paraffin embedding. Subsequently, 5?m slices were made and stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histological evaluations. The weight of the body and lungs was reported as mean ± SE. One-way analysis of variance was used to conduct multiple comparisons (ANOVA). A value of p less than 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The adult male albino rats' body weight significantly decreased (P<0.01) following the administration of formalin and formalin+mint, according to the data. On the other hand, rats given formalin+mint for 30 days showed a significant (P<0.01) increase in body weight as compared to the formalin group. Rats given formalin for 30 days showed an increase (P<0.01) in lung weight as a percentage of body weight when compared to the controls. On the other hand, compared to the formalin group, adult male albino rats given formalin+mint for 30 days experienced a significant (P<0.01) decrease in lung weight as a percentage of body weight. Control rats' lung sections underwent histological examination, which revealed normal pulmonary tissue architecture. When rats were given formalin, their lung tissues changed significantly in comparison to the control group. Co-administration of mint extract with formalin caused improvement in the lung tissues and restored the histoarchitecture to near normal as in the control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that administration of formalin to rats significantly decreased body weight and increased lung weight as a percentage of body weight and a severe histopathological changed in lung tissues in comparison to the control group. While, treatment with mint improved these changed.