ISSN 2756-3413
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effects of acute and sub-chronic ammonium nitrate exposure on rat liver and blood tissues
Samira BENSOLTANE1, L. MESSERER2, Mustapha YOUBI2*, BERREBBAH Houria2, M. DJEKOUN2 and DJEBAR Med Réda2
1Faculté de Médecine, University of Badji Mokhtar, 23000 Annaba, Algerie.
2Laboratoire de Toxicologie Cellulaire, Université de Annaba, B.P. 23000, Algérie.
Accepted 16 October, 2019
Abstract
Use of fertilizers like ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) for agricultural purposes has increasingly contaminated the ecosystem with nitrate and/or nitrites. Nitrite is a toxic substance that can cause multiple physiological effects if allowed to build up to high concentrations in animals such as methemoglobinemia. This work is concerned with the study of short term (3 days intoxication) and mid-term (over 21 days) NH4NO3 exposure to wistar rats at the dose of 250 mg/Kg. Under these conditions, some hematological and biochemical parameters were affected. Methemoglobinemia, increase in serum nitrates as well as a hepatic cytotoxicity indicated by an increase in bilirubin and transaminases levels were observed.
Key words: Ammonium toxicity, Blood tissues, Methemoglobin, Bilirubin, Rat liver, Fertilizers.