HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF CARBAMAZEPINE ( TEGRETOL) ON SOME ORGANS OF MALE ALBINO RATS AT DIFFERENT POSTNATAL AGES

Abstract

The present work was done to study the histological and histochemical changes in the rat liver, kidney and thyroid gland after carbamazepine administration at different postnatal ages. This drug is widely used as an antiepileptic drug in addition to treatment of several other neurological disorders. A total number of 78 male healthy albino rats were used in this study. The animals ages are three weeks, three months and nine months. The animals were divided into two groups, the first group (30 animals, ten for each age) was served as control. The second group (48 animals, 16 for each age) received carbamazepine (Tegretol) intragastrically through a metal tube in a singe daily dose of 6 mg/kg for one week, 12 mg/kg for another one week and 24 mg/kg for one month. Eighteen animals 6 for each age were left for one month after the last dose had been administered. The specimens were prepared for light tmcroscopy. Different • histological and histochemical staining techniques were carried out to examine the structure of the organs under the effect of the drug. Examination of liver sections showed that the hepatocytes were vacuolated with small dense nuclei. Some areas showed dilatation in the blood sinusoids. There were well localized areas of cellular infiltration mainly by lymphocytes and neutrophils. This infiltration might be an indication of hepatitis induced by the drug.