Assessment toxic effects of exposure to 3-indoleacetic acid via hemato-biochemical, hormonal, and histopathological screening in rats

The current study purposed to investigate the 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) possible adverse impacts on hematological parameters, hepatorenal function, cardiac, and skeletal muscles as well as testes of rats and histopathological alterations of respective organs and to determine the extent of reversing any adverse impacts occurred in animals after IAA withdrawal. Rats were exposed orally to 500 mg/kg BW by gastric intubation once daily for 14 days, after which one-half was sacrificed and the remaining half left for a further 14 days without IAA exposure. The exposure of rats to IAA produced anemia, leukopenia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and a significant increase in activities of serum transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, creatine kinase-myocardial band, creatine kinase-muscle type, and levels of serum creatinine, sodium, chloride, and potassium. Furthermore, serum levels of testosterone, gonadotropins, and leptin significantly declined. The changes in most of measured parameters continued after IAA withdrawal. Histopathological alterations in different tissues supported these changes. In conclusion, subacute exposure to IAA at a high concentration could exert hematotoxicity and toxic effects on many soft organs and its withdrawal led to incomplete recovery of animals. Thus, IAA should be used cautiously as extensive use of it at high concentrations can cause harmful effects on the environment, animals and human beings.