Effect of a new antidote on changes in pancreas in paracetamol toxicity. [a histological study]

ABSTRACT

Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic antipyretic agent. Toxic doses ofthe drug have been shown to produce pancreatitis. The present study wasconducted to evaluate the effect of a new antidote [diltiazem] onacetaminophen induced pancreatic toxicity in mice. This study was carried outon 24 mice divided into three equal groups Control group, intoxicated groupreceiving a single toxic dose of paracetamol [500 mg/kg] intraperitoneally anda protected group receiving diltiazem eight hours after receiving the sametoxic dose of paracetamol. The animals were sacrificed two hours after theend of the experiment. Histological and ultrastructural studies revealed analteration in the pancreatic structure after acetaminophen intoxication in theform of degeneration of acini, dilatation of ducts, congestion, loss ofelastic tissue of blood vessels and degranulation of beta cells. Calciumchannel blocker [diltiazem] produced a significant protective effect on thepancreas, which appeared more or less normal in structure