Thioacetamide toxicity and the lung: histological analysis.

groups. Group 1 (n = 10) continued to be on food and water ad libitum and served as control. Group 2 (n = 10) received TA (0.3 g/L) of drinking water (5, 6) and food ad libitum for 16 weeks. Group 3 (n = 10) rats received TA (0.3 g/L) and sodium selenite (4 mg/L) of drinking water (7) and food ad libitum for 16 weeks. Group 4 (n = 10) received TA (0.3 g/L) of drinking water for the first 8 weeks and sodium selentee (4 mg/L) of drinking water for the latter 8 weeks with food ad libitum for the duration of the study. The fluid intake in ml was measured daily and the body weight in grams (g) was measured once a week. At the end of the study, all the animals were anesthetized with diethyl ether. The abdomen and thorax were opened by a midline incision. The liver, spleen, kidneys and lungs were identified, removed, blotted and weighted promptly. Biopsy bits from liver, spleen, kidney and lung of rats belonging to all the groups were fixed in 10% formalin overnight. Tissue sect ions o f 2–3 mm thickness were dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in xylene and tissue blocks were made in the paraffin wax. Sections of 5 μ thickness were cut, dewaxed in xylene , rehydrated and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Stained sections were studied under light microscope after mounting in D.P.X. (Distrene Dibutylphthalate) (8). Selenium is a natural ly occuring micronutrient and trace element that has a narrow margin between beneficial and harmful levels. The role of selenium when administered in carefully titrated doses was studied on thioacetamide induced experimental liver cirrhosis. Ethical clearance from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee was obtained.