Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Chemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
Arch Razi Inst. 2022 Feb 28;77(1):333-343. doi: 10.22092/ARI.2021.356468.1847. eCollection 2022 Feb.
Glucocorticoids have a wide range of pharmacological activities. Generally speaking, the steroid drugs, such as dexamethasone (DEX) can have severe side effects on the histology of different organs. In fact, glucocorticoids have been known as powerful medicines which can cure inflammation and work with the immune system to treat a wide range of health problems. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of DEX on the histological changes of the liver and kidney, as well as blood biochemical parameters. In total, 13 specific pathogen-free male rabbits aged 8-10 months old, with a mean weight of 1.12±0.13 kg were randomly divided into three groups. Group I (n=3) did not receive DEX, and they only received saline solution as a placebo (control). In Group II (n=5), the animals received 0.25 mg DEX/kg body weight/day for a period of 56 days, and the animals in Group III (n=5) received 0.5 mg DEX/kg body weight/day for 56 days. Blood was aspirated from the rabbit's marginal ear vein. All blood samples were centrifuged at 3000×g for 10 min to separate serum samples. Blood lipids and trace elements (zinc, copper, calcium, and iron) were measured. The microscopical analyses of the liver and kidney tissues were performed through the observation of the histological changes in the tissues. The results showed a significant (≤0.05) decrease in the body and organ weight, as well as serum concentrations for the trace elements. On the other hand, lipid profile showed a significant increase (≤0.05) in cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein. However, a significant decrease was recorded in high-density lipoprotein in both treated groups with DEX, compared to the control group. The results of the histological evaluation showed some degrees of degeneration, necrosis, cell vacuolation, and lymphocyte infiltration in the kidney and liver tissues in the treatment groups.
糖皮质激素具有广泛的药理活性。一般来说，类固醇药物，如地塞米松（DEX），可能会对不同器官的组织学产生严重的副作用。事实上，糖皮质激素已被认为是一种强大的药物，可以治疗炎症，并与免疫系统一起治疗广泛的健康问题。因此，本研究旨在研究 DEX 对肝和肾组织学变化以及血液生化参数的影响。总共选择了 13 只 8-10 月龄、平均体重为 1.12±0.13kg 的无特定病原体雄性兔，随机分为三组。第 I 组（n=3）未接受 DEX 治疗，仅接受生理盐水作为安慰剂（对照组）。第 II 组（n=5）的动物接受 0.25mg DEX/kg 体重/天，为期 56 天，第 III 组（n=5）的动物接受 0.5mg DEX/kg 体重/天，为期 56 天。从兔耳缘静脉抽取血液。所有血液样本在 3000×g 下离心 10min 以分离血清样本。测量血脂和微量元素（锌、铜、钙和铁）。通过观察组织学变化对肝和肾组织进行显微镜分析。结果表明，体重和器官重量以及血清微量元素浓度显著（≤0.05）下降。另一方面，脂质谱显示胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白显著增加（≤0.05）。然而，与对照组相比，DEX 治疗组的高密度脂蛋白显著降低。组织学评估结果显示，治疗组的肾和肝组织出现了一定程度的变性、坏死、细胞空泡化和淋巴细胞浸润。
