| dc.description.abstract | Background. Formalin exposure is known to cause oxidative stress and tissue damage, including hepatotoxicity. The liver is a major organ affected by formalin toxicity due to its role in filtration and metabolic detoxification.Objective. The objective of this study was to ascertain the dose-dependent hepatotoxic effects of formalin inhalation on liver, as indicated by serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels, and structural integrity, as measured by histopathology, in male Wistar rats. Methods. The present true experimental study employed a post-test only control group design, consisting of four groups (n = 6 per group): control, formalin 10 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm. The formalin exposure was administered via inhalation for four weeks. Liver function was assessed by measuring SGOT and SGPT levels. Liver histopathology was evaluated using the Ishak scoring system. The statistical analysis employed the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, followed by the Kruskal-Wallis test.Results. Macroscopic and histopathological assessments indicated a significant dose-dependent increase in liver damage. The Ishak Grade and Stage scores exhibited a substantial increase across the treatment groups (p < 0.05). The specific microscopic changes that were observed included hydropic degeneration, focal necrosis, and initial fibrosis, which were particularly evident at the 50 ppm and 100 ppm doses. Conversely, SGOT and SGPT level exhibited a non-significant increase (p > 0.05) across the groups, although a trend towards higher values was observed, peaking at 50 ppm (SGOT) and 100 ppm (SGPT).Conclusion. Chronic formalin exposure (10, 50, and 100 ppm) demonstrated a dose-dependent hepatotoxic effect in Wistar rats, primarily causing structural damage. The Ishak Score has been demonstrated to be a more sensitive measure of chronic formaldehyde-induced liver toxicity than SGOT and SGPT levels. | en_US |
