Abstract
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is one of the highly toxic and persistent compounds that are released unintentionally through various man-made chemicals. HCB had other applications, it was involved in several industrial processes: as a fluxing agent in aluminum smelting, as a regulator of porosity in the manufacture of graphite electrodes, and as a peptizing agent of rubber. The aim of this study was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of HCB on pregnant rats and their fetuses. Pregnant albino rats (Rattusnorvegicus) were administrated day after day an oral dose of 100mg/Kg from the 5th day of gestation till the end of lactation. The animals were sacrificed at the end of gestation and during lactation. Fetuses were removed from the uterus and evaluated for mortality rate, growth parameters, morphological and skeletal malformation as well as histological study of brain, liver and kidney. Results showed decreased weight gain of pregnant rats treated with HCB (100 mg/kg) during gestation and lactation. Fetal growth retardation during gestational and lactational period was dose and time dependent. Hematomas, anomalies of limbs (paralysis, oligodactyly), and excencephaly were noticed morphologically in the fetuses of the treated groups. Fetal skeletal abnormalities were most obvious with 100 mg/kg of HCB from the 5th to the 19th day of gestation. These abnormalities included defective ossification of central and peripheral skeletons, shortness of the terminal ribs, agenesis and wavy ribs. Histopathological studies of pregnant rats and their fetuses during gestation and lactation revealed congestion and dilatation of the central vein and fatty degeneration of the hepatocytes. Hydropic degeneration, inter-tubular hemorrhage, swelling of glomeruli and cloudy swelling of convoluted tubules were observed in kidney of treated groups while mild degenerative changes were observed in the brain following HCB administration. HCB pretreatment was able to increase the level of lipid peroxidation significantly. The correlation noted between GSH levels and HCB effects is significant. Our findings suggest the need for great caution to handle HCB especially during pregnancy and lactation.