2, 5-Hexane Diol Induced Thymic Atrophy and Lymphocytotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

An attempt has been made to characterize the pathotoxicologic effects of 2, 5-Hexane diol (2, 5-Hxdl) on lymphoid organs in rats. Six week-old female albino rats were fed orally 2, 5-Hxdl at 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 m//kg body weight dose levels for 7 days. There was a dose-related reduction in absolute and relative lymphoid organ weights. The magnitude of reduction in organ weights observed was in the following order : Thymus> Spleen>Lymph nodes. Histological examination of thymus revealed a preferential involution of the cortical region together with prominence of cortical epithelial cells. When allowed a rest period of 3 weeks after one week initial treatment of 2, 5-Hxdl, the recovery in lymphoid organ wt/body wt ratio was evident. Further in vitro experiments revealed a dose and time dependent cytotoxic effect to rat thymocytes. Significance of the findings has been discussed in the light of pathotoxicologic effects of 2, 5-Hxdl to lymphoid organs.