The effects of short-time air pollution, SO2, and ozone on biochemical, histo-pathological, oxidative stress, and carcinogenesis related genes expressions in the liver of the rats

OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH: Air pollution is a universal issue and has significant deleterious effects on both human health and also environment. The important indicators of air pollution include ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). This research aims to investigate the impacts of ambient air pollution (AAP), SO2, and O3 on oxidative stress parameters, liver tissue histopathology, and expression of some carcinogenesis-related genes in the hepatic tissue of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups: the control group, the AAP group, the SO2 group (10 ppm), and the ozone group (0.6 ppm). Over a period of five consecutive weeks, the rats were exposed to the specified pollutants for 3 h daily; liver tissues were harvested and instantly fixed with formalin. Pathological changes were assessed in the tissue samples. Additionally, the RT-qPCR technique was utilized to investigate Expression alterations of BAX, p-53, BCL2, caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9. Furthermore, 30 milligrams of hepatic tissues were extracted to assess the activities of oxidative stress enzymes. The SO2 group exhibited severe lesions in histopathology examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed an alteration in liver histopathology, an induction of oxidative stress, and the expression of some apoptosis-related genes in hepatic tissues after exposure to AAP, SO2, and O3.