Comparative Effects of Inhaled Gasoline Fumes On the Femoral Bone of Wistar Rats of Both Sexes

Background: Gasoline fumes contain volatile hydrocarbons capable of producing toxic effects following prolonged exposure. However, information on their effects on the femoral bone histoarchitecture of male and female Wistar rats remains limited. This study investigated the comparative effects of inhaled gasoline fumes on the femoral bone of Wistar rats of both sexes. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two (52) adult albino Wistar rats comprising twenty-six males and twenty-six females (135 ± 4 g) were used for the study. The animals were assigned into test and control groups according to sex. The test groups were further divided into rats exposed to gasoline fumes for 6 hours daily (Group A) and 9 hours daily (Group B), while Group C served as the control. The rats were acclimatized for five days and maintained under standard laboratory conditions with free access to food and water. Gasoline fume exposure was carried out using the method described by Uboh et al. (2007). At the end of the exposure period, the femoral bones were harvested, fixed in 10% formalin, processed histologically, decalcified, sectioned at 5 µm, and stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin. Histological examination was performed using a light microscope with photomicrograph facilities. Results: Histological examination showed no observable abnormalities in the femoral bone histoarchitecture of rats exposed to gasoline fumes for either 6 or 9 hours daily. The osteocytes retained normal morphology, and the trabecular architecture remained intact in both exposure groups. Likewise, the control animals exhibited normal femoral bone histology. Comparison between male and female rats revealed no apparent sex-related differences in the histological response to gasoline fume inhalation.The studyrecommended that further studies should evaluate the effects of longer exposure periods and different concentrations of gasoline fumes on the femoral bone. Also future research should employ additional techniques, such as bone mineral density and biochemical analyses, to detect subtle bone changes