Effect of hydrocortisone on the developing post natal rat thoracic spinal ganglia

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to find out the effect of hydrocortisone on the developing postnatal spinal ganglia of the white rats to predict a possible effect on the human infants. The newborn rats were divided into two groups The first group included 15 newborn rats as controls and the second group included 30 newborn rats for experimental study of the effect of hydrocortisone on the morphology of the developing early postnatal thoracic spinal ganglia. In both groups, the ganglia were prepared for the study at the ages three, five and seven days. Hydrocortisone administration in three-day old treated rats caused thin irregular capsule and there was a significant increase in ganglionic cell mean surface area, while in five days old treated rats, the ganglionic cells had a nonsignificant decrease in mean surface area in comparison to the corresponding control. Satellite cells were irregular in both three- and five-day old treated rats ganglia. Moreover, increased vascularity was seen. At seven-day old treated rats, hydrocortisone administration caused a significant decrease in ganglionic cell mean surface area besides destruction. Wide spaces in ganglionic tissue were seen. Satellite cells lost arrangement and red blood cells in the ganglia were noted. Hydrocortisone administration to newborn rats caused morphological changes in the postnatal developing thoracic spinal ganglia in white rats. The study indicated that the drug should be avoided in treating human infants