THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF CHLORAMPHENICOL ON THE LIVER AND KIDNEY OF RATS

Abstract

The toxic effect of chloramphenicol on the liver and kidney was studied
\nin laboratory Wistar rats. 16 adult rats of both sexes randomly divided
\ninto two groups were used. 10 animals in the test group were
\nadministered with chloramphenicol orally using rat cannula at human
\ninfant recommended dosage of 25mg/kg body weight given once daily for a
\nperiod of 16 days. The 6 animals in the control group were only
\nadministered with 0.9% physiological saline orally over the same period
\nof time. Serum enzymes and levels of serum bilirubin, urea, and
\ncreatinine were evaluated to establish any hepatic or renal
\ndysfunction. There was statistically significant increase in aspartate
\naminotransferase (P<0.05) and alanine aminotransferase (P<0.001)
\nserum levels in the test animals. The increase in serum alkaline
\nphosphatase was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
\nHyperbilirubinaemia was observed in the rat administered with
\nchloramphenicol, the difference in the mean value of the test and
\ncontrol animals were significant for total and conjugated bilirubin.
\n(Total bilirubin P<0.01; Conjugated bilirubin P<0.05). The
\naverage time taken to establish anaesthesia was shorter in the test
\nanimals than in animals in the control group, the difference in the
\nmean values was significant (P<0.05). Serum urea and creatinine
\nlevels were elevated in the test animals, the increase is only
\nstatistically significant for serum urea (P<0.05) but not
\nsignificant for creatinine (P>0.05). Histopathology revealed
\nvascular congestion and foamy cytoplasm of hepatocytes at the
\ncentrilobular region of the liver but did not reveal any damage done to
\nthe renal tissue. It was concluded that chloramphenicol may not be
\nnephrotoxic but may have toxic effects on the liver.