Evaluation of Effects of Remdesivir on the weight of Albino rats and its Testes

ABSTRACT

Objective: To find out the effects of remdesivir on the body weight of treated albino rats and its testes Study Design: Experimental Place & Duration of study At the Anatomy Department of Baqai Medical University Karachi, from August 2021-February 2022 Material & Method: The research was undertaken to record the body weight and its testes in Albino Wistar rats treated by antiviral agent remdesivir. This drug is also recommended for the treatment of Covid-19. The albino rats were divided into 4 groups as A, B, C & D. In each group having 6 Albino Wistar rats. Group A was untreated i.e. control group while group B, C & D were treated by intraperitoneal injection with low, Intermediate and high doses of Remdesivir respectively for 10 consecutive days. A paired sample t-test was performed to determine changes in body weights before and after provision of drugs. The one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare the difference of body weight and relative weight of testes amongst all four groups. Results: The mean body weight of group A before giving any treatment was 173.10±3.42 g & after sterile saline injection intraperitoneally without the drug was 173.48±3.46 g & the difference between the two was insignificant. The mean body weight albino rats before giving any treatment to group B was 178.24±1.78 g, in group C was 174.33±2.49 g & in group D was 173.76±3.22 g. After treatment with intraperitoneal remdesivir with low, intermediate and high doses given to the rats, the mean body weight of group B, C & D was 179.88±1.87 g,177.17±2.41 g and 176.44±3.15 g respectively and the difference between the two means was highly significant (p=0.0001). The mean relative weight of tetes of rat in group A=0.713 ± 8.56 g, B=0.717 ± 15.83 g, C=0.716 ± 14.18 g and D=0.705 ± 4.15 g. There was no statistically significant difference found in the overall relative weight changes of testes amongst four groups (p=0.876). Conclusion: It has been concluded from this study that the mean body weight of animal treated with remdesivir increased significantly while weight of the testes did not affect significantly but in high dose the relative weight of testes decreases. In high dose this drug should be used cautiously as it can affect germ cells present in the testes.