Dose-dependent immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes after oral methylphenidate administration in rat heart tissue.
Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, is a piperidine derivative and is the drug most often used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, one of the most common behavioural disorders of children and young adults. Our aims were to investigate dose-dependent immunohistochemical D2 expression and ultrastructural changes of the rat heart tissue, and to demonstrate possible toxicity of the long-term and high dose use of the methylphenidate. In this study, 27 female pre-pubertal Wistar albino rats, divided into three different dose groups (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and their control groups, were used. They were treated orally with methylphenidate dissolved in saline solution for 5 days/week during 3 months. At the end of the third month, after perfusion fixation, left ventricle of cardiac tissue was removed. Paraffin, semi-thin and thin sections were collected and immunohistochemical, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated Dig-dUTP nick end labelling assay and ultrastructural studies were performed. In conclusion, we believe that Ritalin is dose-related affecting dopaminergic system to increase heart rhythm and contraction. Thus, this drug may cause degenerative ultrastructural changes in mitochondrial path.
Take
G
G
Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gazi, Ankara, Turkey.
Bahcelioglu
M
M
Oktem
H
H
Tunc
E
E
Gözil
R
R
Erdogan
D
D
Calguner
E
E
Helvacioglu
F
F
Giray
S G
SG
Elmas
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D008774:Methylphenidate