Withdrawal effect of codeine and phenobarbitone on the brain and cardiac function enzymes and glucose metabolism in adult albino rats

This study is to elucidate the withdrawal of codeine and phenobarbiton and their effects on some brain, cardiac activity and glucose-insulin-glucagone relations. This may help to clarify the side effect and metabolic changes which may occur as a result of drug administration. For this aim forty adult albino rats were randomly divided to 5 groups each of eight animals. First group was kept as control. Second and third group received codeine orally in therapeutic and double therapeutic dose. Forth and fifth group were given phenobarbiton intramuscular in therapeutic and double therapeutic dose. Drugs were administered day after day for four consecutive weeks. Alterations in serum Monoamine oxidase [MAO] activities, Cholinesterase [ChE] activities, whereas 5' nucleotidase [5'NT] and creatine kinase [CK] activity lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], Aspartat-aminotransferase [AST], glucose, insulin and glucagon were recorded. Such alterations were discussed in relation to doses and levels of drugs in urine of rats that actually stopped drug and exhibited that the analgesic effects symptoms of the drugs are expression of changes of functioning enzymes

Effect of bhang on testicular tissue and serum testosterone level of young and adult albino rats through chronic close exposure to bhang

Bhang is the raw dried leaves of the plant cannabis sativa, it is the mostly abused illegal substance in Egypt, especially among youth and young subjects. In order to discover the occult dangerous effects on both cellular morphology and function of the testicular tissue, this study was carried on. Three groups [a: control, b: experimental, and c: recovery] of rats in every age group; Group I [young subjects] and Group II [Adult subjects], every group included 20 rats, were included in the study, namely control, experimental, and recovery groups. Members of the groups Ib, Ic, IIb, and IIb, were exposed to bhang smoke daily [15 minutes/day x 90 days], after which period the members of the groups Ib and lIb were sacrified, whereas members of the groups Ic and IIc were subjected to 60-day-period of recovery [non-exposure], after which period they were also sacrified. Prior to sacrifaction, a blood sample was withdrawn from each animal to measure its serum testosterone level. After sacrifaction, testicular specimens were taken, fixed, and examined by light and electron microscopy. Results revealed that the percentage of the average numbers of testicular spermatogonia in group Ib/Ia was 51.6%, that of sepermatocytes 70%, whereas spermatogonia in group Ilb/lla was 22.4%, and that of sepermatocytes in group Ilb/lla 55.5%. On the other hand, the percentage of the average numbers of spermatogonia in group Ilc/Ila was 19.2%, primary sperrnatocytes 64.9%. Concerning percentage of average of the number of spermatogonia in groups Ic/Ia was 13.8%. Serum testosterone levels were significantly decreased especially in the groups Ib and Ic. Thus, it is to conclude from this study that young subjects taking bhang could be exposed to the risk of infertility and/or erectile dysfunction, with a specifically magnified danger of those starting before puberty

Effect of ascorbic acid on aflatoxin B[1] induced chronic hepatotoxicity: an experimental study

This study was done to evaluate the effect of chronic Aflatoxin B[1] [AFB[1]] administration on the liver of albino rats and to investigate the role of ascorbic acid as a protective agent. It was carried out on 90 male adult albino rats weighing 150-200 gms and divided into 6 numerically equal groups each group consists of 15 rats. First group [-ve control group] untreated animals, second group received olive oil, third group received ascorbic acid, fourth group received distilled water. Both second, third and fourth groups were served as +ve controls. Fifth group received AFB[1] and sixth group received ascobic acid prior to AFBJ. After 12 weeks of treatment all animals were sacrified and blood was collected to investigate the liver functions [ALT, AST, serum billirubin and alkaline phosphatase]. Liver sections of different groups were examined histopathologicaly using light microscope. The results revealed that the levels of liver functions in AFB[1] group were significantly higher than the control groups. In rats which received ascorbic acid prior to AFB[1], the levels of liver functions were significantly reduced to more or less the levels of the control groups. Light microscopic examination of the control groups demonstrated the normal hepatic structure. Histopathological examination of liver specimens of AFB[1] treated rats group showed vacular degeneration, focal necrosis, fatty changes, kupffer cell hyperplasia and portal infiltration and these harmful effects were reduced in rats group treated by ascorbic acid prior to the administration of AFB[1]. In conclusion this work showed that liver damage of rats treated with AFB[1] is associated with biochemical elevation of liver functions and confirmed by histopathological changes. Ascorbic acid can be considered as a potential antidote against the harmful effect of AFB[1] on liver