Histopathological effect of Meloxicam (Preferential COX-2 inhibitor NSAID) on liver and kidney of Rabbit

Abstract

The present study was aimed to evaluate the histopathological effect of meloxicam, a preferential COX-2 inhibitor NSAID on functional status of liver and kidney of rabbit. Meloxicam was administered to rabbits divided in two different treatment groups. Group B and C were given therapeutic (1.5mg/kg b.w.) and double dose (3.0mg/kg b.w.) of meloxicam respectively for seven consecutive days. Control group (A) was left untreated.Histopathological studies of liver and kidneys of rabbits in Group B, treated therapeutic dose showed mild alterations in liver (slight dilation of sinusoids and central vein, with mild kupffer cell proliferation) and kidney (slight dilation in distal convoluted tubules and slight disruption of proximal convoluted tubules) on day 5 post treatment which completely reversed to normal on day 10 post treatment. In contrast, marked alterations in liver (severe necrosis and vacuolation of hepatocytes, disruption of bile duct and severe central vein dilation) and kidney (severe shrinkage of glomerulus with widened bowman's spaces, vasoconstriction of arterioles, congested and disrupted nuclei of distal convoluted tubules, obliterated lumens of proximal convoluted tubule and mild inflammatory cellular infiltration) were observed at day 5 post treatment in Group C, which were persistent till day 10. It was concluded that the effect of meloxicam is dose and time dependent, which was reversible with therapeutic dose, whereas persistent with double dose.