HISTOLOGICAL EFFECT OF ZINNAT (CEFUROXIME AXETIL) ON THE HEART OF A MALE ALBINO RAT

ABSTRACT Zinnat is a brand name for cefuroxime. Cefuroxime axetil (CA) is a prodrug which is hydrolyzed by esterases of the gut mucosa, releasing the active cefuroxime base. The aim of this research work is to evaluate the histological effect of zinnat (Cefuroxime) on the heart, the effect of Zinnat (cefuroxime) on the weight of the albino rat and to evaluate if the effect of the drug are dependent on the dose. Twenty four (24) male albino rat was used for this experiment with an average weight of 150g were grouped into 4 groups, with six (6) rats in each cage. Group I (control) was given water and feed all through the experiment period, group II (low dose) was treated with 2500mg/kg of zinnat (cefuroxime) for 7days, group III (middle dose) was treated with 5000mg/kg of zinnat for 7days, group IV (high dose) was treated with7500mg/kg of zinnat (cefuroxime) for 7days. The body weights of the rats were recorded before administration and 24hours after the drug administration, 24hours after the last administration of zinnat (cefuroxime) the heart was harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline, the tissue section weee routinely processed using paraffin wax technique. Rotary microtome was used to section the tissue using five (5) micrometers. Section of each tissue were stained using hematoxylin and eosin staining technique, photo micro graphs of the slides were captured as recorded. The result reveals that group I (control) had a mean weight of 148 ± 4.47 before the experiment where as 151.2 ± 2.38 was the weight after the experiment, group II (low dose) had a mean weight of 157 ± 4.83 before the experiment where as 162.5 ± 3.45 was the weight after the experiment, group III (Middle dose) had a mean weight of 133 ± 4.72 before the experiment where as 150.0±2.32 was the weight after the experiment, group IV (High dose) had a mean weight of 144 ± 2.36 before the experiment where as 150.0 ± 2.41 was the weight after the experiment. From the statistical analysis it was observed that there was no statistically significant difference between the weight of experimental groups when compared with that of the control group (P>0.05). A histological examination results shows normal cardiac myocytes in different doses. Zinnat (cefuroxime) in this study shows no effect with regards to dose or duration.