Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Libya.
2
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Libya.
3
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Misurata University, Libya.
4
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Libyan Academy for Postgraduate Studies, Libya.
Abstract
Introduction: Besides its antidepressant effect, imipramine is also used as an effective therapy for the management of nocturnal enuresis in children. Aim: this study aimed to investigate the potential effects of imipramine administration on liver function and architecture. Methods: Wild type male BALB/c mice were treated orally with imipramine at low (5mg/kg) and high (10mg/kg) doses, once a day, for four weeks. The animals were allocated to three groups, each including ten mice: control group, low dose group (5mg/kg), high dose group (10mg/kg). The biochemical and histological effects of the treatment were evaluated via intergroup comparison, using one way ANOVA test. Results: the animals that had received low dose of imipramine showed significantly higher serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared with the control group. The high dose group displayed significant higher levels of AST, ALT, and ALP compared with that in the control group. Additionally, the high dose animals showed significantly elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP compared with that in the low dose group. The microscopic assessment of the liver sections from the low dose group exhibited mild swelling of the centrilobular hepatocytes and vascular congestion. These changes were considerably more evident in the high dose group. Conclusion: The hepatotoxic effects of imipramine appears to be dose-dependent as indicated by the considerable elevation in liver function tests along with histopathological changes in the high dose animals. These findings remain factual observations, the clinical relevance of which warrants further investigations
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