Effect of chronic administration of quinine on the myocardium of mice

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of quinine on the myocardium of Swiss albino mice. 20 or 30 mg quinine/kg b.w. were administered for 30 consecutive days, while the control mice received equal amounts of normal saline. The mice were sacrificed 24 hours after the last administration. Some of the hearts were excised and processed for light microscopic study while some were assayed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activities. The histological findings indicated that the treated sections of the heart were at variance with the control. The myocardium in the control section presents well organized myofibrils with long cylindrical mononucleated cells in contrast to a dose dependent distorted arrangement of myofibrils and scanty cellular components observed in the treated sections. There was a statistically significant decrement in the weight difference and relative percentage weight of the heart in a dose dependent manner just as the activities of MDA and catalase significantly increased in the treated groups. These findings indicate that chronic administration of quinine may have some deleterious effects on the heart of mice and by extension may affect its function.