Background: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is one of the most toxic artificial chemicals present in the environment. TCDD exposure is associ‌ated with stomach damage. Olive leaves extract (OLE) is a herbal agent, used in medication with a variety of beneficial therapeutic effects.
Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of OLE against TCDD induced fundic mucosal damage in adult male albino rats.
Materials and Methods: Seventy rats were divided into 3 groups: Group I (control group), group II (TCDD group): these rats received TCDD (100 μg/kg body weight/day) orally for 8 weeks, group III (TCDD and OLE group): rats of this group received TCDD and OLE (0.5 g/ body weight/day) orally for 8 weeks. Specimens from the gastric fundus were excised and stained with H&E and Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) for both routine histological and histochemical studies, and immunohistochemically for the detection of chromomgranin A. Morphometric and electron microscopic studies were also carried out.
Results: TCDD induced mucosal injury, sloughing of surface mucosal cells, areas of gastric ulcer, glandular disarrangement, and decreased mucosal height, as well as a decrease in the PAS and chromogranin A positive reactions. Electron microscopic studies showed deteriorating changes in parietal cells, chief cells, mucous cells, and enteroendocrine cells. In contrast, most of the changes induced by TCDD were not observed in TCDD and OLE-treated group.
Conclusion: TCDD has toxic effects on the histological and ultrastructure of fundic mucosa of rats, and OLE decreased these effects. OLE can be used to avoid TCDD-induced gastric complications.