Acute toxicity study of indomethacin and oxytetracycline in rabbits

Abstract

Background: The toxic effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NASIDs) and broad-spectrum antibiotics in human and animal science has been studied widely. The advantages and the adverse impact of these medications could be determined by measuring some biochemical parameters such as the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). In addition, the changes in some hematoimmunological parameters could also be measured; for instance, red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin level, white blood cell (WBC) count, and differential WBC count. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of both indomethacin, as a NSAID example, and oxytetracycline, as a broad-spectrum antibiotic separately and together, on some biochemical and hematological parameters. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male albino rabbits were used, with age about 1 year and body weight about 1.5 kg. They were divided into four groups and each group contains four rabbits. The first group served as a control group, which receives only food and water. One of the groups were administered with oxytetracycline at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The second was administered with indomethacin at a dose of 5 mg/kg, and the final group was administered with both oxytetracycline and indomethacin with the same previous dose. All the drugs were dissolved in the distilled water before administration of dose to each animal in the group orally using a stomach cannula for 14 days. The rabbits were kept for 14 days under the room temperature with free access to food and water. Serum was separated from the clotted blood obtained by ear vein. Total RBC and WBC counts were made by the hemocytometer method. The differential WBC counts were made by finding the percentage average of the different types of cells counted in ten fields from Giemsa-stained slides. Serum enzymes such as ALP, AST, and ALT were determined by procedures of Sigma Diagnostics, BUN by method of Crocker. Results: The level of ALP has shown great increase in all groups, while the level of AST and ALT was increased only in the group that administered with indomethacin. However, both parameters showed a significant decrease in the other groups. Regarding hematological changes, WBC increased in all groups, while RBC and Hb level showed sharp decrease. Lymphocytopenia occurred in only the group that administered with oxytetracycline. Conclusion: The results showed toxic effect of these two most popular using drugs in animals specifically when it is used chronically. In addition, there is no great difference when it is used separate or together. Further study is required to investigate the level of damage that happens in the organs.