Toxico-pathological effects in rats induced by concurrent exposure to aflatoxin and cypermethrin

The objective of the present study was to explore modification in toxico-pathological responses of rats toward aflatoxins in the presence of cypermethrin. A total of 120 adult male rats divided into six equal groups received AF and cypermethrin alone or in different combinations. AF was administered daily into rats with a stomach tube at dose rates of 0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg AFB1. Cypermthrin was administered in the feed at dose levels of 0 and 500 mg/kg. Rats administered AF alone showed depression, decrease in feed intake, body weight and loose feces. Livers exhibited fatty change, necrosis, newly formed bile ducts and increased diameter of hepatocytes and their nuclei. Lesions in kidney included tubular necrosis and pink homogeneous tubular casts. Serum ALT and creatinine concentrations increased while those of total proteins, albumin, serum cholesterol and triglycerides decreased. Rats fed cypermethrin only had decreased feed intake and body weight. Hepatocytes showed fatty change and cellular necrosis. A concurrent administration of AF with cypermethrin indicated a potentiation of the AF toxicity reflected by increased severity of clinical signs, mortality of the rats and decreased body weights. Kidneys' relative weight also showed an equivocal interaction between the two toxicants. Other parameters studied did not show significant differences between the rats administered AF alone or concurrently with cypermethrin.