The potential preventive role of vitamin C against structural changes in male rats' liver induced by tramadol

Abstract EN

Objective: The aim of the study is to detect the toxic effects of tramadol on the histological structure of the liver tissue in adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of vitamin C.

Methods: Thirty adult albino rats were used in this study.

The animals were divided into three equal groups:Group A (Control group): In this group animals were injected with distilled water.

Group B (Tramadol treated group, TGI): Animals were given tramadol in a dose of 50 mg/kg daily.

Group C (Group treated with tramadol plus vitamin C, TGII): Animals were given vitamin C 100 mg/Kg half hour prior to tramadol injection in the same dose as in TGI.

All animals were injected intraperitoneally (I.P) for four weeks.

At the end of the experiment, the rats were killed after anaesthetized by ether then the liver was removed and preserved in a fixative and processed to get paraffin wax block and prepared for microscopic examination.

Results: Histological changes has been found in the tramadol treated group TGI compared to the control group including dilatation and congestion of central vein, portal vein and sinusoids.

Also increased infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells (MNCs) with prominent kupffer cells hyperplasia.

In addition, the hepatocytes showed vacoulation with bile duct hyperplasia and increased deposition of collagen fibers in liver parenchyma mainly around portal area.

All these structural changes in liver were ameliorated by giving vitamin C prior to tramadol.

Conclusions: Tramadol caused structural changes in liver tissues and the addition of vitamin C ameliorates these changes.

of toxic metabolites in the body, increase the risk for its toxico-kinetics effects and/or decrease the clearance of tramadol, thus increasing its toxicity.7 Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin is as potent micronutrient that has two main functions as an antioxidant and as an enzyme cofactor.8 It performances as a biological antioxidant that scavenges free radicals and other reactive nitrogen and oxygen species by donating an electron to free radical species there by interrupting the radical chain reaction.9 So, even in small amounts; it can protect indispensable molecules in the body, as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids against oxidative harm.10