title: Toxicity evaluation of in vitro cultures of freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: I. Hepatotoxic and histopathological effects in rats.
abstract: Laboratory cultures of freshwater cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Microcystic aeruginosa PCC 7806 was evaluated for its hepatotoxic effects in rats. The lyophilized cell extract injected intraperitoneally at 1 and 2 LD50 (15.8 and 31.6 mg/kg, respectively) produced significant increase in liver-specific enzymes viz. plasma alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase with a concomitant decrease in hepatic glutamic pyruvic transaminase. A corresponding increase in liver body weight index and histopathological changes in liver (degeneration of hepatocytes, congestion and hemorrhage etc.) are indicative of a dose and time dependent hepatotoxic nature of the algal extract.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, India.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D046931:Microcystis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051381:Rats; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase