Effects of Administration of Carbamazepine and/or Phenytoin on Serum Biochemical Parameters in Wistar Rats.

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the serum biochemical alterations following the administration of carbamazepine (CBZ) and/or phenytoin (PHE) in Wistar rats. Forty male adult Wistar rats weighing between 144 and 300 g were used for the experiment. They were divided into four (4) groups of 10 animals each. Rats in groups II, III and IV were given CBZ (20 mg/kg), PHE (100 mg/kg) and CBZ+PHE (20 and 100 mg/kg separately), respectively. Rats in group I were given distilled water at 2 ml/kg and served as untreated control. All treatments were administered orally by gavage. The regimens were given once daily for a period of eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and serum samples were obtained for the analysis of total proteins, albumin, globulin, urea, Na + , K + , Cl - , and activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). There was an increase in the concentration of Na + (P < 0.0001) concentration, albumin (P < 0.01) and a decrease in urea (CBZ and PHE groups) (P < 0.05), globulin (P < 0.05) and K + (CBZ group) (P < 0.05) concentrations. The activities of ALT in the CBZ and CBZ+PHE groups and that of AST activity in the PHE group increased significantly (P < 0.05). In conclusion, administration of CBZ and/or PHE induced significant alterations in serum biochemical parameters in Wistar rats. It is recommended that serum biochemical parameters should be strictly monitored and regularly evaluated in individuals treated with CBZ and/or PHE in order to alleviate or prevent some of these changes.