The effect of rifampicin and isoniazid on liver and lung tissues in rats

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