title: Effects of aluminium sulphate in the mouse liver: similarities to the aging process.
abstract: Aluminium (Al) is a ubiquitous metal that is potentially toxic to the brain. Its effects on other fundamental organs are not completely understood. This morphological in vivo study sought to compare sublethal hepatotoxic changes and Al deposition in adult mice that orally ingested Al sulphate daily for 10 months, in age matched control mice that drank tap water and in senescent mice (24 months old). Livers were examined for collagen deposition using Sirius red and Masson, for iron accumulation using Perls' stain. Light, electron microscopy and morphometry were used to assess fibrosis and vascular changes. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and EDX microanalysis were used to detect in situ elemental Al. Iron deposition, transferrin receptor expression were significantly altered following Al exposure and in the aged liver but were unaffected in age matched control mice. In Al treated mice as in senescent mice, endothelial thickness was increased and porosity was decreased like perisinusoidal actin. Furthermore, Al stimulated the deposition of collagen and laminin, mainly in acinar zones 1 and 3. Pseudocapillarization and periportal laminin in senescent mice were similar to Al treated adult liver. In conclusion, prolonged Al sulphate intake accelerates features of senescence in the adult mice liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Brescia University, Brescia, Italy. stacchio@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stacchiotti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavazza
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferroni
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sberveglieri
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rezzani
authors.forename: Luigi Fabrizio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rodella
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005355:Fibrosis; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D007797:Laminin; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D003094:Collagen; D007501:Iron