title: Ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues of rabbits induced by diclofenac sodium (Voltaren).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) is one of the most frequently prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) worldwide for the treatment of inflammation and pain; data on the ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues due to its chronic exposure are limited. Therefore, the present study was designed to identify the ultrastructural renal alterations induced by diclofenac sodium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was conducted at the animal house of the Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period from April 2003 to June 2003. A total of 30 male rabbits were exposed to intraperitoneal injection with a daily dose of diclofenac sodium (1.5 mg/kg body weight) for 70 days to investigate the resultant ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the respective control rabbits, chronic exposure to therapeutic doses of diclofenac sodium produced significant ultrastructural renal alterations, which involved swelling and cristolysis of the mitochondria, marked dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum, detachment of ribosomes, increased lysosomal structures, nuclear chromatin condensation in the tubular cells, thickening of the glomerular basement membranes, distention of glomerular capillaries, which showed lodgment of neutrophils, mesangial and endothelial cell proliferation in the glomeruli, swelling and fusion of the glomerular podocytes foot processes with focal obliteration of the filtration slits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results indicate that chronic exposure to diclofenac sodium produces significant ultrastructural alterations in renal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ntaib2663@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Noory T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Taib
authors.forename: Bashir M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jarrar
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mubarak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004008:Diclofenac