Diphenyl Ditelluride Intoxication Triggers Histological Changes in Liver, Kidney, and Lung of Mice

• Published in: Analytical cellular pathology (Amsterdam) Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Vargas Barbosa, Nilda, Torres Salazar, Gerson, Ramos, Angelica, dos Santos, Matheus Mülling, Thomé, Gustavo Roberto, Daubermann, Melissa Falster, Luz, Sônia Cristina Almeida, da Rocha, João Batista Teixeira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2015; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Benzene Derivatives - toxicity; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Lung - drug effects; Lung - pathology; Male; Mice; Organ Specificity - drug effects; Organometallic Compounds - toxicity
• ISSN: 2210-7177; 2210-7185
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/784612

Tellurium compounds may be cytotoxic to different cells types. Thus, this work evaluated the effect of diphenyl ditelluride ((PhTe)2), an organotellurium commonly used in organic synthesis, on the morphology of liver, kidney, and lung. Adult mice were acutely (a subcutaneous single dose: 250 μmol/kg) or subchronically (one daily subcutaneous dose: 10 or 50 μmol/kg for 7 and 14 days) exposed to (PhTe)2. Afterwards, the histological analyses of liver, kidney, and lungs were performed. Liver histology revealed that the hepatocytes of mice subchronically exposed to (PhTe)2 presented cytoplasmic vacuolization, hydropic degeneration, and hyperchromatic nuclei. Subchronic exposure to 50 μmol/kg (PhTe)2 also caused hepatic necrosis. Microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis were identified in liver of mice acutely exposed to (PhTe)2. Acute and subchronic intoxication with (PhTe)2 induced changes on epithelial cells of renal tubules, namely, loss of brush border and cytoplasmatic vacuolization. Atrophy and hypertrophy, cast proteinaceous formation, and acute tubular necrosis were also identified in renal tissue. Mice subchronically exposed to 50 μmol/kg (PhTe)2 developed intra-alveolar edema and alveolar wall congestion in some areas of lungs. Acute exposure to (PhTe)2 did not cause histological changes in lungs. Our data show that (PhTe)2 may be considered a histotoxic agent for liver, kidney, and lung.