Biochemical changes in the liver, kidney and serum of rat following chronic administration of cimetidine

Abstract

The effect of repeated administration of cimetidine, an antiulcer agent, twice daily for 7days on the phosphatase (acid and alkaline) and some function indices of rat liver and kidney was investigated. Sixty-four white albino rats were randomly grouped into two, A and B. Group A which consisted of 32 rats served as the control and were administered twice daily with 1ml of distilled water (the vehicle) for 7days while group B which served as the test group were also administered twice daily with 1ml of cimetidine (2.8mg.kg -1 body wt) for 7days. Cimetidine administration (2.8mg.kg -1 body wt) resulted in significant increases
(P<0.05) in the activities of liver and kidney alkaline phosphatase while there was no significant change (P>0.05) in the serum alkaline phosphatase activities. Acid phosphatase showed a decreased activity (P<0.05) in the liver but an increase (P<0.05) in activity in the kidney following the administration of cimetidine. Serum albumin content exhibited significant reduction (P<0.05) throughout the experimental period. There was a decrease (P<0.05) in the concentration of serum bilirubin from after the third day which was accompanied by a significant increase (P<0.05) in creatinine concentration and these pattern of changes were sustained as long as the administration of the
agent lasted. The results indicated alterations in the biochemical parameters investigated with a more pronounced effect on the liver function than the renal function tests. It can be inferred that chronic administration of cimetidine repeatedly apart from altering the activities of the phosphatase enzymes, will also adversely affect the functional capabilities of the liver and kidneys. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 9: 213 – 218)

Keywords: Cimetidine, Liver, Kidney, Phosphatases, Albumin, Bilirubin, Urea