The 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used as a synthetic antineoplastic agent with the synthesis of nucleic acid in the cell. Unfortunately this drug is known to cause toxic reaction in normal tissue also.
In this experiment, the authors studied the effect of 5-FU on the rat liver histochemically observing the change in the activities of acid phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase.
Healthy albino male rats (Wistar strain) were used as experimental animals which were divided into the control and 5-FU treated groups. All experimental animals were given food and water unlimited. The animals of experimental group were administered 5-FU, in a dose of 50mg per kg of body weight by intraperitoneal injection. The animals of control groups were administered only water for injection. The experimental animals were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after administration of 5-FU, respectively.
The liver specimens, sectioned by cryostat were stained by Gomori method and by Wachstein and Meisel method for studying changes in the activities of acid phosphatase and that of ATPase, respectively.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. The acid phosphatase activity was increased in the hepatic parenchymal cells of the 5-FU treated rat liver.
2. The adenosine triphophatase activity was decreased in the intralobular bile canaliculi of the 5-FU treated rat liver.
Consequently, it is suggested that 5-FU would induce the change in the activities of possibly from production of toxic metabolites and subsequent damage in rat liver.
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