Abstract

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID INDUCES DOSE DEPENDENT GASTRIC ARCHITECTURE DISTORTIONS AND GLANDULAR EPITHELIUM ULCERATIONS IN WISTAR RATS

Idehen I. Charles*, Bankole J. Kayode, Airhomwanbor Kingsley, Dic-Ijiewere Ebenezer, Okparaku Sunday, Ehimara Raphael, Osarobo Eseiwi and Oigbochie Princess

ABSTRACT

Acetylsalicylic acid- herein commonly refers to as aspirin, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with symptomatic relief of pain, fever and inflammation for which reason it is widely used. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of vary aspirin dose on the histological architecture of the stomach using Wistar rats as a model. The experiment was conducted on 30 adult male Wistar rats (weighing between 160 to 200g) divided into 5 groups; a control (group A) and 4 test groups (groups B, C, D and E) treated daily with 35, 70, 105 and 140 mg/kg per body weight of aspirin respectively for 4 weeks. At the end of treatments, rats were anesthetized and following cervical decapitation, the stomach was dissected out for gross and histological examination. There were dose dependent distortions of gastric histological architecture, glandular epithelium ulceration and haemorrhage in groups treated with 105mg/kg and 140mg/kg doses of aspirin as compared to normal histological architecture seen in groups treated with 70mg/kg and 35mg/kg doses and with the control. Based on the findings, aspirin may have no effect on the stomach at low dosage but causes haemorrhagic ulcerations and alteration in gastric histology at higher doses.

Keywords: Aspirin, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Gastrointestinal, Gastric ulceration.