Effect of Exposure to Noise Stress on Liver Tissue Histopathology in Rats

Background: The adverse effects of stress on liver function and tissue pathology have been demonstrated by many studies. However, the full mechanism is still not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of noise stress on the histopathological structure of the liver and contribute to the literature in elucidating the relevant mechanism. Methods: In the study, 20 rats (10 control and 10 study group rats) weighing 250-300 g were used. The animals and ethics approval were provided by A.Ü. Medical Faculty, Experimental Animal Unit, and the studies were carried out in the same unit. Rats were exposed to 70 decibels (dB) of white noise, provided by a digital noise generator placed next to the cages for one hour per day for one month. They were euthanized with halothane. Liver tissue was removed and fixed in 10% formalin solution for 24-48 hours. Routine histological procedures were performed. H and E-stained preparations were examined under a light microscope. Result: In histopathological examination, moderate steatosis in the liver tissue, dissociation in recurrent cords, moderate enlargement of sinusoids and mild hyperplasia in the bile ducts were observed in the group exposed to stress. Statistically, p less than 0.05 was defined as significant.