Immunohistopathological Effects of Combined Administration of Douvir–N and Folc Acid on the Liver and Some Biochemical Parameters in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Douvir–N is a combination of lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine used for the treatment of patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of combined administration of Douvir–N and folic acid on the histology and some Biochemical parameters in the liver of Wistar rats. Forty adult albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control and were administered with 1ml of distilled water, group B animals were administered with 9.29mg/kg body weight of Douvir–N, Group C animals were administered with a combination of 9.29mg/kg of Douvir–N and 0.07mg/kg of folic acid. Animals in group D were administered with 0.07mg/kg of folic acid. Animals were sacrificed after 30 days and dissected. The liver was removed and fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde, processed and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining method, carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin-7 (CK-7) immunochemistry methods. Stained slides were viewed using light microscope. Blood samples from each rat was collected using syringes and needles, The sera were extracted into fresh test tubes and stored in a refrigerator for analysis of aspartate aminotransaminase test (AST), alanine aminotransaminase test (ALT), alkaline phosphotase (ALP). The liver of Wistar rats administered with Douvir–N showed distortions in the liver with moderate dilatation of the sinusoidal spaces and nuclei pyknotic changes, with increased expression of CEA and CK7 in the groups treated with Douvir–N than the control groups. There was a significant increase in ALP in the Douvir–N groups. These changes were ameliorated when Douvir–N was combined with Folic acid. The findings suggest that Douvir–N can distort the cytoarchitecture and Biochemical parameters of the liver which could be ameliorated by co-administration with folic acid. Folic acid should be given as adjuvant drug to patients on Douvir–N therapy.