Photomicrograph of rat's lung, liver and kidney sections; (A, B and C; 400 x) representing the lung, liver and kidney from control group; no histological changes are observed, (D and G; 100 and 400 x respectively) lungs of PQ-exposed rats at medium and high doses respectively; a severe alveolar edema and hemorrhages is seen, (E and H; 100 and 400X respectively) liver of PQ-exposed rats at medium and high doses respectively; representing a severe congestion along with swelling of hepatocytes and the fatty degeneration in periportal zone of classical lobules and (F and I; 100 and 400X respectively) show the kidney from animals that exposed to medium and high doses of PQ respectively; multifocal interstitial nephritis, and the presence of protein casts in renal tubules are manifested. E&H staining and scale bar is 0.1 mm
Effect of Paraquat on COX-2 mRNA level in: (A) the lungs, (B) the liver, and (C) the kidneys; the expression of β- actin as control gene from the corresponding animals are depicted in lower panels. The levels of COX-2 mRNA were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Lower panels represent the COX-2 mRNA levels in: (D) the lungs, (E) the liver and (F) the kidneys; that were measured by densitometry and normalized to β-actin mRNA expression level. Results were expressed as integrated density values (IDV) of COX-2 mRNA level. C= control (received vehicle); L = low dose (3.5 mg/kg), M = medium dose (7 mg/kg) and H = high dose (10 mg/kg).
