The Possible Protective Effect of Lactoferrin on Lambda‑cyhalothrin Induced Pancreatic Toxicity in An Adult Male Albino Rat: A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Introduction: Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is a widely used type II pyrethroid insecticide despite its toxicity. Lactoferrin (LF) is an effective dietary component with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Aim of the work: The current work assessed the histological changes induced by LCT in the pancreas and the ameliorative role of LF against it via particular histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical approaches. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were randomly categorized into four equal groups: the control group, group II (LF group) received 100 mg/kg of LF once daily orally over 4 weeks, group III (LCT group) received 10.83 mg/kg of LCT once daily orally over 4 weeks, and group IV (LCT+LF) received the same dose and approaches as in groups II and III. Results: The LCT group showed disturbed pancreatic architecture, widely separated acini with some darkly stained nuclei, wide interlobular spaces, and some dilated blood vessels. A highly significant decrease in the size of islets of Langerhans, the color intensity, and mean area percentage of anti-insulin immunoreaction, and a highly significant rise in the color intensity of caspase-3 immunoreaction of this group, compared to the control group. Biochemically, fasting blood sugar and malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels expressed a highly significant rise in group III, while insulin level and pancreatic glutathione (GSH) revealed a highly significant decline. Ultrastructurally, dilated RER, swollen, degenerated mitochondria were noticed together with heterochromatic nuclei and dilated perinuclear cisternae of many acinar cells. Moreover, dissolution of acinar zymogen granules and wider halos of Beta cells’ granules were observed, as well as dilated RER. Most of the previous alterations were diminished by LF coadministration. Conclusion: The histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, morphometrical, statistical, and ultrastructural results of group IV (LCT+LF) confirmed the ameliorative role of LF against LCT toxicity.