HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF TOXICOLOGY EFFECTS OF DICLOFENAC SODIUM KIDNEY OF ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS

Kidney damage has been associated with administration of diclofenac, a phenylacetic acid derivative belonging to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which is commonly used for the treatment of various diseases such as acute muscle pain conditions and osteoarthritis. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of an oral intake of diclofenac sodium on the kidney of adult male wistar rats. Sixteen (16) male wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (A – B) of eight (8) rats each. Group A rats served as control and were given distilled water and group B fed 4 mg/kg body weight of diclofenac sodium for fourteen (14) consecutive days. Experimental animals were sacrificed on the 15th day by cervical dislocation. The kidney were collected after sacrifice and fixed in 10 % formol calcium and subsequently processed for histological observation using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining principle. The histological section the kidney of the control animals showed normal glomerular and tubular histology and also revealed adequate preservation of tubular structures with the presence of glomerular capsule. The histological section the kidney of the rats exposed to diclofenac sodium showed chronic inflammatory cells infiltration, necrosis of renal tubules and congestion of the glomerulus. Diclofenac sodium treatment caused significant impairments in both the structural and functional integrities of the rat’s kidney, which might have affected the renal functions. This effect seems to be related to an apoptotic process which is responsible for renal failure. Further chronic studies are needed to explore mechanisms by which diclofenac sodium led to these toxic effects at the molecular levels.