Histopathological and inflammatory response in multiple organs of rats exposed to crack

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate histopathological and inflammatory response in liver and kidney of rats after crack exposure. For this purpose, a total of 32 male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: (G1) and (G2): received 18 mg/kg of body weight (b.w) of crack cocaine, but Group G2 remained 72 h without exposure after the experimental period (5 days). Experimental group 3 (G3): received 36 mg/kg of body weight (b.w) of crack cocaine. Control Group (CTRL): received only the vehicle (DMSO) administered by intraperitoneal (i.p) route for 5 days. The results showed that crack cocaine induced histopathological changes in liver and kidney. Immunohistochemistry data revealed that G2 group showed a higher immunoexpression of Ki-67 in hepatic and renal tissues. Regarding inflammation, the results showed that all groups exposed to crack cocaine decreased the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in liver and kidney. In summary, our results showed that the subacute doses of crack cocaine used in this study had cytotoxic, and immunosuppressive effects in liver and kidney of rats, especially at 36 mg/kg dose. Since cellular death and inflammation participates in the multi-step process of chemical carcinogenesis, these data offer new insights into potential ways to understand the pathobiological mechanisms induced by crack cocaine in several tissues and organs.

KEYWORDS:

• Key-words: crack cocaine
• cytotoxicity
• inflammation
• kidney
• liver

Authors’ contributions

DVS, BAR and BPC performed the experimental design. DVS and BAR made immunohistochemistry. DVS and DAR evaluated histopathological analysis. DVS and BPC made ELISA methods. DVS, BAR, BPC, MBV, DE, RCP, DAR, CSP interpreted the results and wrote the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All procedures were conducted according to the International Research Standards for Animals, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) of Federal University of Sao Paulo – UNIFESP, under Protocol no. 7,038,080,219.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge research grants received from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico) and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) DVS, BAR and BPC thanks CAPES for student scholarship. MBV and DAR thanks CNPq for productivity fellowship.