experimental study on the side effects and toxicity of imipramine in albino mice

ABSTRACT

The adverse reactions and the histopathological and histochemical effects of therapeutic and toxic doses of imipramine on the heart were studied in 30 male albino mice. Therapeutic doses of the drug resulted in sedation, whereas toxic doses were associated with seizures, coma and death. With both therapeutic and toxic doses, the cardiac muscle fibers showed cloudy swelling and hydropic degeneration of various degrees. Histochemical studies revealed diminished activity of succinic acid dehydrogenase and alpha esterase enzymes and increased activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase ezymes