Effect of Acrylamide on

Stomach, Cerebellum
and Testis of the Albino
Rat
By
Hesham Noaman Abdel Raheem

M.D. THESIS

Acknowledgement
should go to all persons who have
assisted, in a way or another, to allow
this study to come to light;
Doctor: Kariman Mohammed El-Gohari
(Professor of Anatomy and Head of
Anatomy Department).
Doctor: Hassan Mostafa Serry (Professor
of Anatomy).
Doctor: Shahira Samir Zaki (Assistant
Professor of Anatomy).

Introduction

Acrylamide Chemistry
Uses
water treatment,
enhanced oil recovery,
papermaking aids,
soil conditioning agents,
sewage and waste treatment,
ore processing,
permanent-press fabrics.

CH2=CHCONH2

Human Exposure to Acrylamide

Acrylamide is a chemical compound formed de

novo when certain carbohydrate-rich foods fried,
baked, or roasted at high temperatures.
It was not known to be in food until April 24,
2002, where Swedish scientists reported high
concentrations of in fried, baked foods.
Maillard reaction is reaction of reducing sugar
(as glucose) with free asparagine, an amino acid
found in many foods, especially at high
temperature.
WHO/FAO: Dietary intake: 0.3-0.8 g/kg
BW/day.

Exposure to Acrylamide in Food

30
25
20

French Fries &

Potatoes

15

Breads

10

Potato Chips
Cereal

5
0

Biscuit / Cookies

All Other Foods

ug/day

Coffee
Cakes
Dried Foods
Pop Corn
Salty Snacks
Chocolate
Nuts/Seeds/
Butters

Effect of temperature

160 C
27 ppb

170 C
70 ppb

180 C
326 ppb

Acrylamide levels in potato chips fried

for 4 minutes increased with frying
oil temperature. (ppb=parts per billion)

Effect of time

3.5 m
12 ppb

4m
46 ppb

4.5 m
227 ppb

5m
973 ppb

Acrylamide levels in potato chips fried at 180oC

increased with frying time.

Aim of the
work

The current project aimed at exploring the harmful

effects of acrylamide on the structure of the stomach,
cerebellum and testis in the albino rat, in an attempt to
clarify its potential risk on the human health.

Material and
Methods

The stomach, testis and cerebellum specimens

were collected form fifty adult male albino rats.
Animals were divided to two main groups: I, II
each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups.

Specimens from testis, cerebellum and stomach were

extracted and processed for light and electron
microscopic examination. For the light microscope serial
sections obtained, stained with H&E (Testis, Cerebellum
and Stomach); Feulgen stain (Testis) and silver stain
(Modified Glees) (Cerebellum). An image analyzer was
used to assess cellular apoptosis, and in addition, DNA
cytometry was performed.

Results

I- Effect of Acrylamide on testis

Animals that received 25mg/kg BW/10days

showed mild affection.
Animals that received 50mg/kg BW/10days
showed evident damage especially with the
intraperitoneal administration. This was in the
form of degeneration of germ cells, numerous
multinucleated giant cells with sloughed
seminiferous epithelium, and vacuolations inbetween the germ cells.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control

Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.
Control

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/ P.O.

Apoptosis
Feulgen stain was performed to assess the effect
of acrylamide on cellular apoptosis in the testis.
It was clearly proved that acrylamide at a dose of
50mg/kg/10days showed increased apoptosis.
Control group

25mg/kg/10days whether orally or

intraperitoneally

5/10

6/10

50mg/kg/10days/orally

9/10

50mg/kg/10days/intraperitoneally

15/10

Study of DNA Cytometry

Control

25mg/kg/10days whether orally or intraperitoneally

50mg/kg/10days/orally

50mg/kg/10days/ intraperitoneally

II- Effect of Acrylamide on

Cerebellum

The Purkinje cells were target cells to acrylamide.

Rats treated at a dose of 25mg/kg/10days showed
that Purkinje cells somata appeared unaffected, while
degeneration of their dendrites and axons were evident
in the molecular and white matter respectively.
In addition, Rats treated with 50mg/kg/10days
showed argyrophilic degenerated Purkinje cells somata.

Control

25mg/kg/10days/Orally
25mg/kg/10days/I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/Orally

50mg/kg/10days/ I.P.

Control

Control

25mg/kg/10days/I.P.

50mg/kg/10days/P.O.

III- Effect of Acrylamide on

Stomach
The stomach of animals treated with acrylamide
in a dose of 25mg/kg/10days showed no gastric
affection, while there were mild degenerative
changes and an apparent increase in mucous
secreting cells in the group that received
50mg/kg/10days.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/IP

Control
50mg/kg/10days/.P.

Control

50mg/kg/10days/I.P.

Conclusion

The present study expands the available information

concerning the hazards carried by the consumption
of acrylamide on testis, cerebellum and stomach.
Although the doses of acrylamide utilized in the
present investigation were higher than the average
dietary daily intake in humans, 0.4-5 g/kg body
weight/day, yet the cumulative effects of such
toxicant on human health are still waiting to be fully
identified.
Further studies focusing on the influence of
acrylamide on different organs in smaller doses for
prolonged periods could aid in the full
understanding of hazards implicated by acrylamide.