Effect of long-term administration of some anticancer drugs on blood criteria and liver function in rats

ABSTRACT

The effect of longterm administration of Melphalan, Mercaptopurine and Mitolactol [Anticancer drugs] on blood criteria and serum enzyme activities and bilirubin level was studied on 7 groups of 8 male albino rats each. Oral administration of melphalan, mercaptopurine and mitrolactol in doses of 0.1 and 0.2, 0.2 and 0.5 and 0.2 and 0.5 mg/kg b.wt./day for, 3 months significantly decreased erythrocytic and leucocytic counts and haemoglobin percentage but increased sedimentation rate. The tested drugs increased the percentages of neutrophils and basophils and had no effect on those of eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Moreover, increased the level of total and direct bilirubin and the activities of alkaline phosphatase and transaminases in serum. Histopathological examination of liver and spleen of the anticancer treated rats showedvariable degrees of damage in their cellular structure as compared with those of control rats