Introduction: Acrylamide is a toxic chemical used in many industrial uses. It is generated in carbohydrate-rich foods cooked using high temperature. Quercetin is amongst the most effective antioxidant of the flavonoids.
Objective: To assess the effects of acrylamide on the gastric mucosa in adult male albino rats after maternal exposure to it during pregnancy and lactation and the possible ameliorative role of quercetin.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four pregnant albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group 1: (Control group): kept without treatment. Group 2: (Acrylamide treated group): they received acrylamide in a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight/day Group 3: (Quercetin and acrylamide treated group): they received quercetin in a dose 50 mg/kg body weight/day 2 hours before the acrylamide at the same dose of the previous group. Group 4: (Quercetin treated group): they received quercetin at the same dose as in the previous group. The drugs were received by gastric intubation from day 6 of gestation till the 21st day after birth. Adult offspring in each group were sacrificed. Specimens from the gastric fundus were processed for light microscopic, transmission and scanning electron microscopic examination in addition to morphometric study.
Results: Acrylamide induced mucosal injury, sloughing of surface mucosal cells, glandular disarrangement, and decreased mucosal thickness, as well as a decrease in the PAS-positive reaction. Scanning electron microscope showed exfoliation of the surface cells. Electron microscopic studies showed deteriorating changes in parietal cells, chief cells, mucous cells, and enteroendocrine cells. In contrast, most of the changes induced by acrylamide were improved in the acrylamide and quercetin treated group.
Conclusion: Quercetin exerted an ameliorative effect against acrylamide-induced gastric toxicity.