HISTOLOGICAL EFFECT OF PEFLOXACIN ON THE LUNGS OF MALE ALBINO RATS

43 person at rest is the tidal volume (normally 500-750mL); the inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume are the additional amounts a person is able to forcibly inhale and exhale respectively. The summed total of forced inspiration and expiration is a person's vital capacity. Not all air is expelled from the lungs even after a forced breath out; the remainder of the air is called the residual volume. Together these terms are referred to as lung volumes. (Criée et al., 2011) Pulmonary plethysmographs are used to measure functional residual capacity. Functional residual capacity cannot be measured by tests that rely on breathing out, as a person is only able to breathe a maximum of 80% of their total functional capacity. The total lung capacity depends on the person's age, height, weight, and sex, and normally ranges between 4 and 6 litres. Females tend to have a 20–25% lower capacity than males. Tall people tend to have a larger total lung capacity than shorter people. Smokers have a lower capacity than nonsmokers. Thinner persons tend to have a larger capacity. Lung capacity can be increased by physical training as much as 40% but the effect may be modified by exposure to air pollution (Criée et al., 2011). Other lung function tests include spirometry, measuring the amount (volume) and flow of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. The maximum volume of breath that can be exhaled is called the vital capacity. In particular, how much a person is able to exhale in one second (called forced expiratory volume (FEV1) as a proportion of how much they are able to exhale in total (FEV). This ratio, the FEV1/FEV ratio, is important to distinguish whether a lung disease is restrictive or obstructive. Another test is that of the lung's diffusing capacity this is a measure of the transfer of gas from air to the blood in the lung capillaries (Criée et al., 2011). 44 Lung treatments If you have a respiratory illness, your doctor may prescribe several types of treatment. These depend on the cause of your lung disorder (Noreen 2018). Treatments for respiratory conditions like COPD, asthma, and pneumonia often include breathing treatments and conditioning. COPD treatments might also include medications and lifestyle changes (Noreen 2018). Some treatments for respiratory issues include: ● Antibiotics for a bacterial infection such as tuberculosis ● Anti-viral medications for a viral infection such as viral pneumonia ● Anti-fungal medications for a mold or fungal infection ● Anti-inflammatory medications, such as steroids for asthma and severe allergies. ● Inhaled bronchodilators to help temporarily open airways in those with asthma or COPD. ● Immune system medications, such as anti-IgE and leukotriene modifier drugs. ● Heart burn (GERD) drugs can help treat asthma symptoms. ● Synthetic surfactant drugs to help the alveoli stay open. ● Other medications for asthma, such as beta-agonists and anticholinergics (Noreen 2018). 45 CHAPTER THREE 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 STUDY AREA The research was carried out at the animal house of the department of pharmacology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba (ABSUTH). Aba is a city found in Abia State, Nigeria. It is located 5.11 Latitude and 7.37 Longitudes and it is situated at elevation 64meters above sea level. The research lasted for a period of two to three months. 3.2 TEST DRUG AND ADMINISTRATION The drugs were administered orally using 5ml syringes daily for 7days. The drugs pefloxacincapsule of 400mg were purchased at a government approved pharmacy . The drug is stored below 25ºC, protected from moisture. 3.3 DOSAGE EVALUATION The dosage of drug to be administered to the Albino rats was evaluated with the formula below; Drug percentage (%) x LD50 100 Where; LD50 12.5g/kg equivalent to 2500 mg/kg Percentage of drug to be administered = 25% 25% x2500 = 0.25 x 2500 = 625 mg/kg 100 This was also applied to other percentage of the test drug to be administered to the rats. 46 3.4 ANIMAL GROUPING AND CARE ETHICS Twenty-Four (24) adult albino rats of male sexes were obtained from the Animal Farm of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The animals were taken to the laboratory where they will be housed in an iron cage. The animals were divided at random into 4 groups of 6 rats per cage and were labeled as cages I (control), II, III, IV. There was a pre-experimental period of one month during which the animals were allowed to acclimatize with the environment and also maintained on standard rat feed which was purchased from Top Feeds Industries Limited located at No. 55 Abayi road, Aba. They were given deionizer distilled water ad libitum before the commencement of the experiment. The animals were weighed before commencement of experiment. Ethical principles regarding animal handling were strictly adhered to. 3.5 DESIGN AND CONDUCT OF EXPERIMENT The twenty-four rats will be randomly divided into four major groups, the test and control rats was weighed 10 minutes before the administration of the first dose of pefloxacin and same was done 24 hours after the last drug administration was noted. Graded doses of pefloxacin tablet in the order as listed below was administered. Group I: Control group treated with demonized distilled water Group II: 25% of the LD50 of Pefloxacin was administered orally for 7 days Group III: 50% of the LD50 of Pefloxacin was administered orally for 7 days Group IV: 75% of the LD50 of Pefloxacin was administered orally for 7 days 47 Table 3.1 Showing Days and Dosage of Drug Administered Group Concentration of Pefloxacin (mg/kg) Number of days I (Control) Water and feed Till 7th day II 625 7days III 1250 7days IV 1875 7days 3.6 SPECIMEN COLLECTION At the end of the drug administration period, the animals were observed for general physical activity, mobility, and agility. The body weights of the animals will be noted at the beginning of the study and on the day of sacrifice (24hrs after the last dose of the test drug). The animals were anaesthetized with chloroform and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The lungs were harvested and fixed in a 10% formal saline for histological analysis for 48hrs. 3.7 HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES The tissues were routinely processed for paraffin wax embedding. 5um thick paraffin cross sections containing the lungs tissues were mounted on the slides and stained using routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) method. The stained sections were examined under a light microscope to get the general structure of the lungs tissue and to detect the effect on the lungs. 3.8 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Numerical data which were obtained from the study will be as the mean value + standard error of mean (SEM). Difference among means of control and treated 48 group were obtained/determined using statistical package (Instant Biostatistics, version 3, Graphed Software Inc. 2002). A probability level of less than 5% (p