The effect of rifampicin and isoniazid on liver and lung tissues in rats

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes in Swiss albino rats liver and lung tissues resulted from the oral administration of the antituberculous drugs rifampicin and isoniazid. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 24 adult rats aged 2.5-3 months weighing 200-250 g randomly distributed into four groups(6 animals for each), the first group served as a control group while the remaining three as test groups. The rifampicin group was treated with 50 mg/kg B.W. once per day for 60 days, the isoniazid group was treated with 25 mg/kg B.W. once per day for 60 days, the rifampicin and isoniazid groups were treated with 50, 25 mg/kg B.W. respectively once per day for 60 days. Results: Giving rifampicin alone orally once daily for 60 days caused fatty degenerative and necrotic changes in the liver in addition to proliferative lesions and emphysema in the lung. Rats receiving isoniazid alone orally once daily for 60 days showed similar degenerative and necrotic changes in liver and lung but of lower intensity. Whereas those receiving rifampicin and isoniazid combination for 60 days showed pathological changes similar to those induced when each of the two types of antituberculosis drugs was given alone but of more intensity. Conclusion: Rifampicin and isoniazid showed clear histopathological changes in the rat's liver and lung tissues when given separately ; however, changes where more intense when givenin combination.

Keywords

• rifampicin
• isoniazid
• hepatotoxicity
• emphysema