Introduction: Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is an oxidizing agent that is widely used as a flour improver. However, it induces genotoxic and carcinogenic effects on different body organs in a dose and duration-dependent manner.
Aim of this Study: To explore the effects of KBrO3 on the structure of the rat jejunal mucosa and investigate the potential role of lycopene, a strong antioxidant molecule, in preventing or ameliorating the effect of KBrO3.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were used and divided equally into four experimental groups; control group, lycopene group that received 10mg of lycopene/kg/day/orally; KBrO3 group that received 100mg of KBrO3/kg/day/ orally and KBrO3 and lycopene group that received KBrO3 and lycopene in the same doses as in the previous groups. Animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and the specimens from the jejunum were processed for histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural examinations.
Results: The jejunal mucosa of the KBrO3 treated group showed short and broad villi, discontinuity and desquamation of their lining epithelial cells, inflammatory cellular infiltration, and dilatation of the blood vessels. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of goblet cells and PCNA immuno-stained nuclei in the jejunum. Ultramicroscopic examination showed swollen vacuolated mitochondria, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, and shrunken dark nuclei. Interestingly, the group treated with both lycopene and KBrO3 showed less cytoplasmic vacuolation and mitochondrial abnormalities in the epithelial cells lining the villi. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the height of jejunal villi, the number of goblet cells, and PCNA immuno-stained nuclei.
Conclusion: KBrO3 induced cellular damage in the rat jejunal mucosa which was prevented by coadministration of lycopene