Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathological
changes in Swiss albino rats liver and lung tissues resulted from the oral
administration of the antituberculous drugs rifampicin and isoniazid.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 24 adult rats aged 2.5-3
months weighing 200-250 g randomly distributed into four groups(6 animals for
each), the first group served as a control group while the remaining three as test
groups. The rifampicin group was treated with 50 mg/kg B.W. once per day for 60
days, the isoniazid group was treated with 25 mg/kg B.W. once per day for 60 days,
the rifampicin and isoniazid groups were treated with 50, 25 mg/kg B.W. respectively
once per day for 60 days.
Results: Giving rifampicin alone orally once daily for 60 days caused fatty
degenerative and necrotic changes in the liver in addition to proliferative lesions and
emphysema in the lung. Rats receiving isoniazid alone orally once daily for 60 days
showed similar degenerative and necrotic changes in liver and lung but of lower
intensity. Whereas those receiving rifampicin and isoniazid combination for 60 days
showed pathological changes similar to those induced when each of the two types of
antituberculosis drugs was given alone but of more intensity.
Conclusion: Rifampicin and isoniazid showed clear histopathological changes in the
rat's liver and lung tissues when given separately ; however, changes where more
intense when givenin combination.
