title: A sub-acute study of metronidazole toxicity assessed in Egyptian Tilapia zillii.
abstract: Metronidazole (MTZ), an antiparasitic and antibacterial compound, is one of the world's most widely used drugs. Despite being considered as a rodent mutagen and a carcinogen, it is still widely used in humans for the treatment of infections with anaerobic organisms. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of MTZ using the micronucleus (MN) assay and random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD-PCR) analysis as well as histopathological examination in Tilapia zillii. Moreover, the protective effect of vitamin C (VitC) against toxicity of MTZ was investigated in the present study. Fish were treated with three doses of MTZ (5, 10 and 20 mg l(-1)) alone or in combination with VitC (200 mg kg(-1) food) at several time intervals (2 days, 7 days and 14 days). The results of the present study showed a significant effect of MTZ on micronucleus formation and changes in polymorphic band patterns as well as induction of different histopathological alterations in Tilapia zillii. The effects of the drug were reduced when fish were exposed to a combination of MTZ and VitC.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology Department, National Research Center, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt. wagdykh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Wagdy K B
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Malak M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zahran
authors.forename: Karima F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Mahrous
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008547:Melanophores / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000379:methods; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017210:Tilapia / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute / Q000379:methods*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D008795:Metronidazole; D004247:DNA; D001205:Ascorbic Acid