Effect of nalbuphine [a narcotic drug] on some hematological and biochemical parameters of male albino rat

ABSTRACT

Among narcotic drugs of major importance in medicine, is nalbuphine hydrochloride. It is a potent analgesic, has been effectively used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain, in pot-operative analgesia, for labor analgesia and as a component of balanced anesthesia. Commercially, nalbuphine hydrochloride is known as nubain or nalufin. The present study aimed to investigate the possible noxious impacts of this drug on some hemotalogical and biochemical parameters of male albino rat [rattusnorvegicus]. So, sixty adult rats weighing 140-150 gm were used to study erythrocytes [R.B.Cs] and leucocytes [W.B.Cs] counts, hemoglobin [Hb] concentration, hematocrit [Hct] value, mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH] and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC]. Besides, studying the biochemical analysis of kidney function including urea and createnine concentrations, in addition to thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4] levels. The experimental groups were injected twice time daily intramuscularly with the drug at the dose levels of 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ 100 gm. B.wt. for 15 and 30 days. Nalbuphine hydrochloride treated rats displayed deleterious alterations in their hematological and biochemical analysis. The data of hematological investigations revealed a marked decrease in RBCs, Hb, Hctand MCV in groups treated with low or high dose of nalbuphine for 30 days. Also, a significant decreases were detected in R.B.Cs, Hb and MCH in rats treated with high dose Of nalbuphine for 15 days. While, Hb concentration, Hct value, MCV and MCH showed insignificant changes in rats treated for 15 days with the low dose. On the other hand, MCHC and W.B.Cs showed insignificant changes throughout all treated groups. Biochemical studies on the serum indicated a marked increase in urea and createnine in all groups treated with nalbuphine. On the other hand, T3 and T4 exhibited a significant decrease after treatment with nalbuphine. These deleterious changes give an alarm to be aware in using such drugs from the narcotic group