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. 2012 May;19(2):132-7.
doi: 10.4103/0971-6580.97206.

Repeated Topical Application of para-Phenylenediamine Induces Renal Histopathological Changes in Rats

Manuj Kr Bharali  1 , Rajeev Basumatary, Taibur Rahman, Karabi Dutta
Affiliations

Repeated Topical Application of para-Phenylenediamine Induces Renal Histopathological Changes in Rats

Manuj Kr Bharali et al. Toxicol Int. 2012 May.

Abstract

Hemolytic anemia and rhabdomyolysis have been often reported to be an adverse effect of drug- and chemical-induced toxicity both in experimental and real-life scenario. para-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a derivative of para-nitroaniline and has been found as an ingredient of almost all hair dye formulations in varying concentrations from 2% to 4% w/v. Earlier studies have reported that the accidental oral ingestion of PPD in humans can lead to acute renal failure because of rhabdomyolysis. In the present investigation, we have tested the chronic topical application of PPD and its effect on the renal histology of Sprague-Dawley rats. The experiment provides clear evidence that topically applied PPD induces hemolytic anemia as evident from the decrease in the total RBC count, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin content apart from rhabdomyolysis which subsequently causes acute renal failure in rats.

Keywords: Hemolysis; para-phenylenediamine; renal dysfunction; rhabdomyolysis; topical.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparative cytomorphology of RBC from control (a) and treated group of animals (b-d). (a) Control. (b) Echinocytic transformation of RBC after PPD treatment (arrow). (c) Polychromatic erythrocytes with Heinz bodies. (d) Ghost cells and polychromatic megalocytes (arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of PPD on the (a) serum albumin (mg/dl), (b) creatinine (mg%), and (c) creatinine phosphokinase (IU/L) levels in the experimental animals after 60 days. Mean±SEM (n=5), statistical analysis by t-test. *P<0.05, **P<0.001
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kidney section from (a) control and (b-d) PPD-treated animals, respectively. Note (b) necrosis of proximal tubular cells with cytoplasmic vacuolation; (c) tubular atrophy and desquamation of the tubular epithelial layer. (d) The tubulointerstitial inflammation with hyperchromic leucocyte infiltration. H and E, original magnification ×40
Figure 4
Figure 4
Kidney section from (a) control and (b) PPD-treated group of animals. Perls’ Prussian blue staining, original magnification ×40. Note the increased deposition of iron pigments along the proximal tubular compartment in the PPD-treated animals compared to control animals
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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