HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF IBUPROFEN ON THE KIDNEY OF ADULT FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fever, mild to moderate pain and primary dysmenorrhoea. Due to its easy accessibility, abuse of the drug is very common, leading to its various side effects. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of an oral intake of ibuprofen on the kidney of adult female wistar rats. Sixteen (16) female 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 ibuprofen 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. Photomicrograph of a kidney section of adult albino rats in control group showed normal glomerulus, normal proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Photomicrograph of a kidney section of rats treated with monosodium glutamate showed severe degeneration of glomerulus, proximal distal convoluted tubules, chronic inflammatory cells infiltration, necrosis and congestion of renal tubules. The glumerular tufts were contracted and packed with red blood cells. The study revealed that administration of ibuprofen for 2 weeks caused deleterious effects on rat’s kidney which was evidenced in histological changes. Ibuprofen may be considered as a strong nephrotoxic agents. However, further chronic studies are needed to explore mechanisms by which ibuprofen led to these toxic effects at the molecular levels.