Histomorphologic alterations of the cerebellum of Wistar rats following Amodiaquine plus Artesunate administration

Received: August 12, 2008
Accepted: October 10, 2008
Ref: Ekong MB, Igiri AO, Egwu AO. Histomorphologic alterations of the cerebellum of Wistar rats following Amodiaquine plus Artesunate administration. Internet Journal of Medical Update. 2009 July;4(2):15-18.

HISTOMORPHOLOGIC ALTERATIONS OF THE CEREBELLUM OF WISTAR RATS FOLLOWING AMODIAQUINE PLUS ARTESUNATE ADMINISTRATION

Mr. M. B. Ekong^†, Mr. A. O. Igiri^†, and Mr. A. O. Egwu^‡

^†Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
^‡Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Nigeria

(Corresponding Author: Mr. A O Egwu, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Nigeria, Email: egwuoc@yahoo.com)

ABSTRACT

Amodiaquine and artesunate are two antimalarial drugs sold in combination as Larimal®. This drug is a very effective artemisinin-base combination. This study was to access the effects of amodiaquine and artesunate combination on the histology of the cerebellum. Twenty adult Wistar rats weighing between 150-180g were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five animals each. Group A served as the control and the animals received distilled water, while group B received 8.75+2.86mg/kg of amodiaquine and artesunate combination for three days, group C received 8.75+2.86mg/kg of amodiaquine and artesunate combination for six days and group D received 17.50+5.71mg/kg of amodiaquine and artesunate combination for three days. Histological sections showed destruction of the Purkinje cortical layers in group B, with increased destructions in groups C and D compared to the control. These results reveal that amodiaquine and artesunate combination causes histological alterations, which were dose and time dependent and these may result in cerebellar dysfunction.

KEY WORDS: Amodiaquine; Artesunate; Histopathological alterations; Cerebellum; Larimal; Wistar rats

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