ABSTRACT
Background: The respiratory system consists of upper and lower respiratory tract. The lower respiratory tract consists of the trachea, principal bronchi and the remaining airway in the lungs. The aim of present study is to correlate the chronic use of NSAID-Ibuprofen (therapeutic doses) and histological changes in mucosa of lower respiratory tract of Swiss albino mice. Methods: The adult Swiss albino mice (25 in each group) were given either 40mg/kg commercial ibuprofen suspension (experimental group) or equivalent volume of distilled water (control group) by oral route by gastric gavage method. 7 μm thick longitudinally cut section of lung were studied under microscope after staining with Masson’s trichrome, Alcian blue, PAS and H & E stains. Histomorphometry was performed with linear ocular micrometer scale to quantify certain histological parameters namely epithelial height and proportion of epithelium height in an airway wall (PEH). The data was subjected to statistical analysis to obtain significance. Results: Proportion of epithelial height in the walls of airways (PEH) was found to be slightly lower in experimental small, intermediate and large airway groups but when compared with control group it was found to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The apparent decrease in the height of epithelium in the airways of the experimental groups along with the increase in proportion of wall thickness (not significant statistically) is suggestive of a corresponding gain in muscle thickness. This feature might reflect the tendency towards bronchospasm in experimental set of mice.
ABSTRACT
Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs that provides analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects and in higher doses, anti-inflammatory effects. The present case control study was performed to find out whether prolonged oral administration of a non-selective NSAID- ibuprofen in therapeutic doses produces any micro-structural changes in the mucosa of lower respiratory tract of adult Swiss albino mice. Methods: The adult Swiss albino mice (25 in each group) weregiven either 40mg/kg commercial ibuprofen suspension (experimental group) or equivalent volume of distilled water (control group) by oral route by gastric gavage method once daily for 6 weeks. Histomorphometry was performed with linear ocular micrometer scale to quantify certain histological parameters namely outerdiameter, inner diameter, wall thickness and proportion of wall thickness (PWT). Results: Reduction in the body weight at the end of dosing period in both the groups of mice but significant weight loss in experimental group of mice. Microscopically the findings of less airy lung tissue in the experimental group were notable. Mean values of proportion of wall thickness (PWT) were compared in experimental and control group and although apparently the PWT in experimental group seemed to be increased it was not significant statistically. Conclusion: The present study reflects the low possibility of toxic role of ibuprofen on the lung tissue of the mice in human equivalent therapeutic doses although it is not statistically significant. Hence, although any life threatening side effect has not been noticed in the mice, its use should be judged before advocating prolonged dosage.