Histopathological evaluation of protective effects of honey on subacute toxicity of acrylamide-induced tissue lesions in rat

Objectives: Acrylamide (ACR) is a hydrophilic and chemical substance which has many applications in industry and is widely used in the synthesis of polyacrylamide. Also, improper heating of food results in production of acrylamide monomerasa toxic compound in foods. The toxicity (neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity etc.) ofacrylamidein humansandanimalsis known. Acrylamideleads tohistopathologicalchangesin various tissues including brain, liver, kidney, testis, intestine and other organs.Honey containscompoundssuch aspolyphenols, which haveantioxidantproperties andactivities; the purpose of this paper is to investigate histopathologically the possible protective effect of honey on ACR-induced subacute toxicity in male rats.Materials Methods: In this study, 56mature male wistar rats were divided randomly into seven groups. In order to induce toxicity, acrylamide was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg for 11 days) to rats. Subsequently, tested animals received three doses of honey (1.25, 2.5, and 5 g/kg) orally by gavage. In parallel, the positive control group received vitamin E (200 IU/kg) by intraperitoneal administration. The negative control group received normal saline 0.9% orally by gavage. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and necropsy was performed.Tissue specimensfrom brain (cerebrum and cerebellum) and testes were collected for histopathological studies.Results Conclusion: Administration ofacrylamidecause to tissue lesionsinthesetissues.The microscopic findings revealed ischemic cell changes, hyperemia, hemorrhage and edema in brain; hyperemia, changes inspermmassand thickness of theseminiferoustubulesintestes.Treatmentwithdoses1.25, 2.5 and5g/kg honeyrevealed thathoney(especiallydosage5 g/kg)cansubstantiallyreducetissue lesionscaused byacrylamide.In conclusion,honeycan probably improve ACR-induced oxidative stressthroughantioxidant activity and thus reduce the severity of lesions and tissue injuries caused by the ACR inrattissues.