The Effect Of Amodiaquine On The Histomorphology Of The Spleen Of Wistar Rats

This study was to ascertain the effect of the administration of amodiaquine (AQ) on the histomorphology of the spleen of Wistar rats. Twenty adult Wistar rats weighing between 150-180g were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of eight animals each. Group A served as the control and the animals received distilled water, while groups B, C and D were the experimental groups. The drug was administered as 17.50mg/kg, 8.75mg/kg and 8.75mg/kg for groups B, C and D respectively. The administration lasted three days for groups B and C, while group D administration lasted six days. Histomorphological sections showed increased size of the white pulp, hypertrophied and hyperplastic red pulp parenchymal cells in group C, while groups B and D showed decreased white pulp sizes, and hypertrophied red pulp parenchymal cells. This is an indication of lymphocyte destruction. Thus, these results suggest that over-dose and chronic doses of AQ is detrimental to the spleen, therefore excess dosage should not be taken especially as a prophylactic. The study was carried out in the Laboratory of Anatomy Department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar-Nigeria