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Hepatic alterations in indomethacin-treated rabbits

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Summary

Indomethacin was parenterally administered (6 mg/Kg/day) for 30 days to rabbits, to evaluate changes in serum biochemical parameters and any ultrastructural alterations induced by the drug at the hepatic level. An analysis of the results demonstrated that when the group of rabbits treated with indomethacin was compared to a control group of healthy non-treated rabbits, a statistically significant increase in the serum ALT was found in the treated rabbits. Ultrastructural observations showed the following hepatocyte alterations: 1) minimum mitochondrial alterations 2) mild signs of cholestasis (pericanalicular osmophilic bodies) 3) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum hyperplasia. These findings suggest that indomethacin has the capacity to induce hepatic lesions in the rabbit and this is probably due to the surfactant mechanism.

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Martines, G., Boiardi, L., Butturini, L. et al. Hepatic alterations in indomethacin-treated rabbits. Clin Rheumatol 7, 24–27 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02284052

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