Authors : EE Ogbonye, EE Ogbonye, OC Ejimofor, OC Ejimofor, EC Ogbodo, EC Ogbodo, IP Ezeugwunne, IP Ezeugwunne, DUP Madukwe, DUP Madukwe
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijn.2020.013
Volume : 6
Issue : 1
Year : 2020
Page No : 67-72
Metronidazole (MTZ) has been reported to cause neurotoxicity and this has great public health importance.
This is an experimental study designed to evaluate the effects of metronidazole on the histology of the
cerebellum and pituitary gland in female wistar rats. Twenty (20) adult female wistar rats weighing between
170-260g were divided into four groups (A-D) comprising of five (5) rats each. Group A (the control), was
given normal rat feed with water, while group B, C, and D received 50mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg
body weight of MTZ orally on daily basis using intubation method for a period of twenty eight (28)
days respectively. Thereafter, the experimental animals were sacrificed and their respective cerebellum and
pituitary gland harvested for histological examination using haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) method.
The histological examination of the cerebellum of the experimental animals in group A (control) revealed
a normal histological limits, showing the cortex, prominent purkinje cells and granular layer. However, the
rats in group B showed mild congestion of cerebellar blood vessels; group C showed mild displacement of
the purkinje cells and the granular layer while group D revealed the displacement of the purkinje cells and
the granular layer. Furthermore, the pituitary gland of the control rats (group A) showed normal histological
limits. There was no significant change in the histology of the pituitary gland of the rats in group B
(50mg/kg body weight of MTZ) but in the group C animals, the pars nervosa displayed the pituicytes
with mild necrosis while those in group D showed that there was a reduction in the presence of pituicytes
and mild congestion of the blood vessels. Thus, metreonidazole has an adverse effect on the cerebellum
and pituitary gland.
Keywords: Metronidazole (MTZ), Weight, Cerebellum, Pituitary gland, Neurotoxicity.