Histopathological changes in liver and renal tissues in Wistar rats given bore well water from CKDu endemic areas in North Central Province

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Aims: Observe the histopathological changes in Liver and Kidney tissues after giving well water from CKD endemic areas. Methods: Three villages were selected after completing a questionnaire. Results of the questionnaire and number of CKD patients in the locality were taken as the selection criteria of wells. Well number one and two were selected from New Town Medirigiriya and Bisobandaragama from Medirigiriya division and third well was selected from Divuldamana from Dimbulagala. Ten rats were assigned to each group with equal male female ratio. Test rats were given well water from selected wells 1, 2 and 3 whilst control group was given tap water from Colombo. Experiment was conducted for fifteen months Results: Hepatocellular carcinorma developed in four rats given well water from Medirigiriya and one rat each from Bisobanadaragama and Divuldamana. Five rats from Bisobandaragama developed hepatitis. None of the animals given tap water from Colombo had malignant changes or hepatitis. Severe tubular and glomerular lesions were observed in test groups compared to control. There was a statistically significant difference between Tubular lesion index in all three test groups compared to control group (p<0.05). Significantly high Glomerular lesion index was observed in animals given well water from Divuldamana (p<0.05). Some environmental toxin in water can trigger hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. There is a strong association between consumption of bore well water from CKD endemic areas and development of CKD in rats.