In this study, it was aimed to investigate the toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) on the lung tissue using light microscopy. Furthermore, potential protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against this toxicity were evaluated.

A total of 24 adult male Wistar-albino rats used in our study were divided into three equal groups. The control rats received pure olive oil subcutaneously (sc), rats in the second group were injected with CCl₄ (sc) and rats in the third group were injected with CCl₄ plus CAPE (intraperitoneally, ip) every other day. At the end of four weeks of experimental period, all animals were killed by decapitation and their lungs were removed. For light microscopic examination, tissue specimens were embedded in paraffin blocks following routine histological procedures. Sections obtained from paraffin blocks were stained with hematoxylen-eosin and examined under a light microscope.

The evaluation of the lung sections of control rats showed normal structural integrity. Epithelial desquamation in the bronchi and bronchioli, interstitial pulmonary hemorrhage, leucocytes with polymorphic nuclei and macrophage infiltration were observed in the lung specimens of rats exposed to CCl₄ alone. With exception of small hemorrhagic areas, these histopathological changes were disappeared in rats treated with CCl₄ plus CAPE.

In view of the findings of the present microscopic study, it was determined that histopathological changes in the lung tissue resulting from experimental CCl₄ toxicity could be prevented by CAPE administration.