[Morphological and histochemical changes in the rat liver in chronic furfural poisoning]

The experiment was carried out on rats, which were divided into three experimental and one control groups. The experimental animals were intraperitoneally injected with furfural in the dose of 58 mg/kg body weight for 30 days. In the liver samples obtained at autopsy, apart from routine staining with hematoxylin and eosin, estimation of the activity of the following enzymes was made: succinic dehydrogenase. NADH-tetrazol reductase, lactic dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate, adenosine-triphosphatase, Ca-formol, glucose-6-phosphatase and acid phosphatase. Glycogen content was also evaluated. A temporary decrease in the activity of reactions for the enzymes of tissue respiration, an increase in the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase with a simultaneous decrease of glycogen content, activation of intracellular digestive processes, and inhibition of active transport through biological membranes were found in animals intoxicated with furfural.