Enzyme activities and histopathology of selected tissues in rats treated with potassium bromate.

The effect of chronic administration of potassium bromate (KBrO3), a flour improver, on some ‘marker’ enzymes of rat cellular system was investigated. The levels of these enzymes were measured progressively in the kidney, liver and small intestine, 24h after days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 following the administration of 10mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate and when left for 10days without administration after their 20 daily doses. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities of all the tissues were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in KBrO3 treated groups with corresponding significant (P<0.05) increase in the serum enzymes. Acid phosphatase (ACP) activities of all the tissues as well as the serum enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.05) decreased. There was only recovery in the ACP activities of all the tissues. Histological examination revealed congestion of the central vein with blood cells in the hepatocytes, infiltration of the interstitial cells accompanied with acute nephritis in the nephrons and mild mucosal dysfunction in the small intestine. The alterations in the ‘marker’ enzymes as well as in the tissue histology are indications of adverse effect of potassium bromate on the cells which might be due to the presence of oxygen in the molecule leading to oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the ordered lipid bilayer of cell membranes. All these might be responsible for the various adverse effects associated with the chemical compound. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 11: 87- 95) Key Words; Potassium bromate, Chronic, Marker enzymes, Histology, Oxidation, Polyunsaturated fatty acids, Cell membrane