Effect of Acrylamide on

Stomach, Cerebellum

and Testis of the Albino

Rat

By

Hesham Noaman Abdel Raheem

M.D. THESIS

Acknowledgementshould go to all persons who have

assisted, in a way or another, to allow

this study to come to light;

Doctor: Kariman Mohammed El-Gohari

(Professor of Anatomy and Head of

Anatomy Department).

Doctor: Hassan Mostafa Serry (Professor

of Anatomy).

Doctor: Shahira Samir Zaki (Assistant

Professor of Anatomy).

Introduction

Acrylamide Chemistry

Uses

CH2=CHCONH2•water treatment,

•enhanced oil recovery,

•papermaking aids,

•soil conditioning agents,

•sewage and waste treatment,

•ore processing,

•permanent-press fabrics.

Human Exposure to Acrylamide Acrylamide is a chemical compound formed de

novo when certain carbohydrate-rich foods fried,

baked, or roasted at high temperatures.

It was not known to be in food until April 24,

2002, where Swedish scientists reported high

concentrations of in fried, baked foods.

Maillard reaction is reaction of reducing sugar

(as glucose) with free asparagine, an amino acid

found in many foods, especially at high

temperature.

WHO/FAO: Dietary intake: 0.3-0.8 µg/kg

BW/day.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

ug/day

Biscuit / Cookies

All Other Foods

Exposure to Acrylamide in Food

French Fries &

Potatoes

Breads

Potato Chips

Cereal

Coffee

Cakes

Dried Foods

Pop Corn

Salty Snacks

Chocolate

Nuts/Seeds/

Butters

Effect of temperature

Acrylamide levels in potato chips friedfor 4 minutes increased with frying

oil temperature. (ppb=parts per billion)

160 °C

27 ppb

170 °C

70 ppb

180 °C

326 ppb

Effect of time

Acrylamide levels in potato chips fried at 180oC increased with frying time.

3.5 m

12 ppb

4 m

46 ppb

4.5 m

227 ppb

5 m

973 ppb

Aim of the

work

The current project aimed at exploring the harmful effects of acrylamide on the structure of the stomach,

cerebellum and testis in the albino rat, in an attempt to clarify its potential risk on the human health.

Material and

Methods

The stomach, testis and cerebellum specimens

were collected form fifty adult male albino rats.

Animals were divided to two main groups: I, II each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups.

Specimens from testis, cerebellum and stomach were

extracted and processed for light and electron

microscopic examination. For the light microscope serial

sections obtained, stained with H&E (Testis, Cerebellum

and Stomach); Feulgen stain (Testis) and silver stain

(Modified Glees) (Cerebellum). An image analyzer was

used to assess cellular apoptosis, and in addition, DNA

cytometry was performed.

Results

I- Effect of Acrylamide on testis

Animals that received 25mg/kg BW/10days

showed mild affection.

Animals that received 50mg/kg BW/10days

showed evident damage especially with the

intraperitoneal administration. This was in the

form of degeneration of germ cells, numerous

multinucleated giant cells with sloughed

seminiferous epithelium, and vacuolations in-

between the germ cells.

Control 50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control 50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control 50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P. 50mg/kg/10days/ P.O.

ApoptosisFeulgen stain was performed to assess the effect

of acrylamide on cellular apoptosis in the testis.

It was clearly proved that acrylamide at a dose of

50mg/kg/10days showed increased apoptosis.

Control group 5/10

25mg/kg/10days whether orally or

intraperitoneally6/10

50mg/kg/10days/orally 9/10

50mg/kg/10days/intraperitoneally 15/10

Control 25mg/kg/10days whether orally or intraperitoneally

50mg/kg/10days/orally 50mg/kg/10days/ intraperitoneally

Study of DNA Cytometry

II- Effect of Acrylamide on

Cerebellum

The Purkinje cells were target cells to acrylamide.

Rats treated at a dose of 25mg/kg/10days showed that Purkinje cells somata appeared unaffected, while degeneration of their dendrites and axons were evident in the molecular and white matter respectively.

In addition, Rats treated with 50mg/kg/10daysshowed argyrophilic degenerated Purkinje cells somata.

Control

25mg/kg/10days/Orally

25mg/kg/10days/I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.50mg/kg/10days/Orally

Control

25mg/kg/10days/I.P.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/P.O.

III- Effect of Acrylamide on

Stomach

The stomach of animals treated with acrylamide

in a dose of 25mg/kg/10days showed no gastric

affection, while there were mild degenerative

changes and an apparent increase in mucous

secreting cells in the group that received

50mg/kg/10days.

50mg/kg/10days/IP

Control

Control

50mg/kg/10days/Ì.P.

50mg/kg/10days/I.P.Control

Conclusion

The present study expands the available information

concerning the hazards carried by the consumption

of acrylamide on testis, cerebellum and stomach.

Although the doses of acrylamide utilized in the

present investigation were higher than the average

dietary daily intake in humans, 0.4-5 µg/kg body

weight/day, yet the cumulative effects of such

toxicant on human health are still waiting to be fully

identified.

Further studies focusing on the influence of

acrylamide on different organs in smaller doses for

prolonged periods could aid in the full

understanding of hazards implicated by acrylamide.