Long-term Treatments with Low- and High dose Olanzapine Change Hepatocyte Numbers in Rats. A Stereological and Histopathological Study

• Published in: Archives of medical research 2009-04, Vol.40 (3), p.139-145
• Main Authors: Odaci, Ersan, Bilen, Habip, Hacimuftuoglu, Ahmet, Keles, Osman Nuri, Can, İsmail, Bilici, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Benzodiazepines - administration & dosage; Benzodiazepines - adverse effects; Cell Count; Hepatocytes; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Hepatocytes - pathology; Internal Medicine; Liver - drug effects; Liver - pathology; Male; Olanzapine; Rats; Rats, Wistar
• ISSN: 0188-4409; 1873-5487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2009.02.006

Background and Aims Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic agent, has been commonly used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania because it demonstrates better efficacy for negative schizophrenic symptoms and has minimal extrapyramidal side effects compared to typical antipsychotic drugs. Recent reports of serious hepatotoxicity induced by olanzapine have been published. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term administration of low and high doses of olanzapine on rat livers. Methods Rats were divided into a control group ( n = 5) (CG), a low-dose olanzapine group ( n = 5) (LOG) and a high-dose olanzapine group ( n = 5) (HOG). Olanzapine in doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks were intraperitoneally injected into the LOG and HOG, respectively. The same volume and dosages of normal saline (0.9% NaCl) were given to the CG during the same period. At the end of the experiment, livers were evaluated stereologically and histopathologically. Results Significant differences only in the total number of hepatocytes in the rats' livers were found between CG, and LOG and HOG ( p