Some toxic effects of molybdenum in adult male albino rats

Ammonium molybdate is an essential trace element in plants, animals and humans, as it is present as a cofactor for some enzymes; also, it is an environmental pollutant. Thirty adult male albino rats were used to investigate the adverse effects of ammonium molybdate on the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs of adult male albino rats. Therty adult male rats were equally divided into 3 groups. The rats of the 1[st] group were left without treatment and used as a negative control group for measuring the basic parameters. The rats of the 2[nd] group were daily intragastrically administered 2 ml normal saline [vehicle of molybdenum] for each rat for 30 days and were used as a positive control group. The rats of the 3rd group were daily intragastrically administered ammonium molybdate in a dose of 136 mg /kg body weight in 2 ml of normal saline [1/5 of the LD50] for each rat for 30 days. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus of each anethetized rat in all groups for measuring levels of liver enzymes [ALT, AST, Aikaline phosphatase], total bilirubin, urea and createnine; then the rats were sacrificed, and specimens from the livers kidneys, spleens and lungs of all rats were collected for histopathological examination. The levels of liver enzymes, bilirubin, urea and createnine of the rats of the 3[rd] group [ammonium molybdate group] were statistically significantly elevated compared to those of the negative control group [P <0.001]. Histopathological examination of the rats of the 3rd group showed, moderate liver damage consisting of scattered necrotic areas, inflammatory infiltrates and congested central vein, In the Kidneys, there were degeneration of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules appeared as cloudy swelling and congestion. There were also cellular infiltrates. Histopathological examination of the spleen showed reactive follicular hyperplasia with areas of necrosis and congestion reflecting congested splenomegally. The lungs revealed diffuse haemorrhage and mononuclear inflammatory cellular infiltration in the interstitial tissue with congested dilated vessels. It can be concluded that ammonium molybdate could produce toxic effects on the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs of adult male albino rats

Skeletal anomalies of gabapentin in pregnant female albino rats

Gabapentin is one of the new antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the skeletal anomalies of gabapentin in pregnant female albino rats. Thirty virgin female albino rats were used and classified into three equal groups each consisted of 10 rats. The first group received nothing except regular diet and tap water and considered as negative control. The second group received 1 ml saline daily orally from the 1st day till the 20th day of gestation. The third group received gabapentin in a single dose of 324 mg/kg body weight in 1 ml saline orally daily from the 1st day to the 20th day of gestation. On the 20th day of pregnancy, rats were sacrificed and the uterine horns promptly exposed, the number of alive fetuses was detected as well as the number of fetal resorptions. Individual fetal weight, crown- rump length [CRL] and bipareital diameter were recorded. Then fetuses were eviscerated and placed into alizarin red stain for detection of osseous skeleton. The numbers of fetal resorptions in the negative and positive control rats were 5% and 4.6% respectively. The number of fetal resorptions in gabapentin treated dams was 42%. The numbers of examined alive fetuses were 85, 82, and 28 in negative control, positive control and gabapentin treated rats respectively. There were significant decrease in the weight, CRL and bipareital diameter measures in fetuses of third group [gabapentin treated] compared to those in the first group [negative control]. Fetuses stained with alizarin stain of dams treated with gabapentin revealed incomplete ossification of skull bones as parietal, interpareital, occipital, frontal, lacrimal and occipital bones. Also, there were incomplete ossifications of vertebral, metacarpal and metatarsal bones. It can be concluded that gabapentin is experimentally a teratogenic drug. It can be recommended that further studies must be done to evaluate teratogenicity of gabapentin in humans. Mothers taking it during pregnancy have to check regularly their fetuses till the end of pregnancy. But it is preferred that those women should be advised to use a contraceptive method during treatment with this drug to avoid its teratogenic effect

Nephrotoxic effects of celecoxib on adult male albino rats

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used for a variety of indications, including acute pain, arthritic pain, and headache. The long-term use of these agents is often limited by unwanted adverse effects, such as gastritis and renal dysfunction. In an effort to decrease the adverse effects while retaining pain-relieving properties, the selective cyclo-oxygenase [COX]-2 inhibitors were developed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the nephrotoxic hazards of celecoxib and also to evaluate the extent of recovery that occur after discontinuation of this drug during a follow up period .The study was conducted on 50 adult male albino rats weighing approximately [150-200 gm] and divided into 3 groups; group I [negative control group]: consisted of 15 rats, each rat was given no medications to evaluate the basic parameters; group II [positive control group [Gum acacia group]]: consisted of 15 rats, each rat was gavaged with 2 mL of Gum acacia suspension once daily for 6 weeks and group III [celecoxib group]: consisted of 20 rats, each rat was gavaged with 14,4 mg celecoxib/rat once daily for 6 weeks. Twenty four hours after the last dose of celecoxib, 15 rats from each control group and 10 rats from the celecoxib group were used. The kidneys of the rats of these groups were investigated histopathologically by light microscope and biochemically by measuring blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, sodium and potassium levels. The remaining rats of celecoxib group were left for another 6 weeks without drug, administration for follow up. At the end of this period the. rats were examined as mentioned above. The main findings of the present study were as follow: group 1 [negative control group], and group II [positive control group], showed no abnormal findings without a statistically significant difference between them so we used the results of the negative control group to compare it with those of celecoxib group. As regard biochemical changes, there was an increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, sodium and potassium levels in the rats of celecoxib group with a statistically significant difference when compared with the negative control group [P<0.001]. Six weeks after discontinuation of celecoxib administration, the above mentioned biochemical changes improved and showed a statistically significant difference when compared with the results obtained 24 hours after the last dose of celecoxib, but the level of improvement didn't reach to the control level and gave a significant difference when compared with the negative control group. This means that, these parameters improved but didn't return to the level' of the control, which was supported by the histopathological results. As regard histopathological study of celecoxib group, microscopical examination of the kidneys showed severe affection of the kidneys in the form of renal papillary necrosis and acute and chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis with interstitial oedema and inflammatory cell infiltrate. After 6 weeks of follow-up, histopathological examination of the kidney in the celecoxib group showed incomplete recovery. It could, be concluded that celecoxib is nephrotoxic and its toxic effects were partially reversible after its discontinuation