Liver sinusoids are lined by fenestrated endothelial cells surrounded by perisinusoidal
cells, Kupffer cells, and pit cells, as well as large granular lymphocytes. The functional ability of
the liver cells can be substantially modified by exposure to toxins. In the current work, we assessed
the histopathological and ultrastructural effects of a time-course exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)
on the hepatic structures of rats. A total of 30 adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided
into three groups: a control group, a group orally administered 250 µg/kg body weight/day of
AFB1 for 5 days/week over 4 weeks, and a group that received the same AFB1 treatment but
over 8 weeks. Histopathological and ultrastructural examinations of hepatocytes revealed massive
vacuolar degeneration and signs of necrosis. Furthermore, the rat liver of the treated group exhibited
damage to the sinusoidal endothelium, invasion of the space of Disse with hyperactive Kupffer cells,
and some immune cells, as well as Ito cells overloaded with lipids. In addition, damaged telocytes
were observed. Taken together, our results indicate that AFB1 induces irreversible adverse effects on
the livers of rat