Histopathological and histochemical effects of diazepam [Valinil] on rats

ABSTRACT

Diazepam [Valinil] was used in the present work to evaluate its effects at two doses on the histopathological and histochemical changes in liver and kidney tissues of pregnant rats. Diazepam is being used extensively as a hypnotic drug. The two doses of diazepam were orally administered at concentration levels of 0.09 and 0.9 mg/kg body weight of pregnant rats, at 6-14[th] and 6-19[th] days of gestation. The histopathological results in the liver were in the form of hepatic necrosis with focal areas of lymphocytic aggregates, marked swollen liver cells with granular acidophilic cytoplasm and indistinctive cell boundaries, proliferated bile ducts and vascular changes were also seen. The changes in the kidney were scattered contracted glomerular tufts and degenerated tubular epithelial cells. Also, the carbohydrate content of liver and kidney were significantly reduced while total protein contents of these organs were elevated. These effects were proportional to diazepam concentration and duration of administration