reproductive toxicity of ribavirin in the adult rabbit testis [light and electron microscope study]

Ribavirin is one of the approved antiviral drugs indicated for various viral infections. So it is used as a current chemotherapy with interferon alpha for treatment of viral hepatitis C. The aim of the present study was to assess Ribavirin toxicity on the structure of testicular tissue of adult male rabbits after exposure to the drug as well as to evaluate the extent of improvement of testicular tissue structure after stoppage of drug administration. Eighteen adult male rabbits were used in this study. The rabbits were divided into three groups: control group [C] 6 male rabbits received distilled water by the same method and duration as the corresponding experimental groups, a treated group [T] was formed of 6 adult rabbits receiving Ribavirn in a dose of 15mg/kg/day at two divided doses for 10 weeks and a recovery group [R] receiving Ribavirin in a dose of 15mg/kg/day for 10 weeks followed by 10 weeks without treatment to assess the effect of drug withdrawal. The testes of each rabbit were immediately dissected out and specimens were fixed and stained with H and E. Minute specimens were stained with Toluidine blue for LM examination, and ultrathin sections were stained with Uranyl acetate and Lead citrate for TEM examination. Marked histological changes of the testis at the level of the light and electron microscope including disorganization of the semineferous tubules, reduction in the thickness of the germinal epithelium vaccuolation and degeneration of the spermatogenic cells. Sertoli cells and leydig cells were also affected. Partial recovery of the testis was observed in the recovery group, but some of the changes were still obvious. These testicular changes persisted after stoppage of Ribavirin administration indicates the cumulative toxic effects of Ribavirin that lead to hypospermatogenesis, oligospermia and then azospermia

Effect of titanium dioxide [TiO2] as a color additive on the testes, sperms and chromosomes of male albino rats

Titanium dioxide [TiO2] is one of the top 50 produced substances for use around the world. 70% of all [TiO2] produced is used as pigment in consumer products such as plastics, health, beauty aids and other personal care product that we use. Toothpaste products use [TiO2] to get that desirable bright white color as do many other products such as lotions, creams, shave foam, cosmetics, sunscreen lotions and more. Food products such as sour cream, cottage cheese [via the cheese dressing] ice cream and other dairy products use a small quantity of the pigment to attain that familiar brightwhite coloration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological effect of 1/20 of LD50 of [Ti02] on the testes, sperms and chromosomes of albino rats and its relation to the duration of its adminstration. Forty male albino rats had been divided into four groups, ten rats for each. The first was served as a control group, the second was gavaged by [TiO2] 600mg/kg daily for 4weeks. The third was gavaged with same dose of [TiO2] for 8 weeks and the forth group was gavaged by same dose of [Ti02] for 12 weeks. Each rat's group were sacrificed after each duration, testes specimens were taken and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The sperms were examined for number, viability, motility and shape abnormalities. For chromosomal study, rats from each group were anaesthetized and the bone marrow cells were obtained by Rabello-Gay and Ahmed method. Microscopic examination of the testicular specimens, revealed disorganized germinal epithelium with abnormal mitotic figures and apoptotic cells. Sperm analysis showed that sperm count, viability and motility were decreased and the sperm anomalies were increased. Chromosomal analysis of bone marrow cells showed many aberrations as, chromatid deletions, ring chromosomes, chromosomal gaps, dicentric chromosomes, clumping of the chromosomes and polyploidy. All the former revealed that the histopathological changes and abnormalities caused by [TiO2] had been aggravated by prolonged duration of administration

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