Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: September | Volume: 3 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 65-70
Impact of Abacavir Sulfate and Lamivudine on Rat Erythrocyte Methaemoglobin Concentration and NADH Methaemoglobin Reductase Activity
WODU, Ebizimor1, Ogbomade, Ronami Sampson2, FRANK-OPUTU, Ayibaene1
1Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
2College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: WODU, Ebizimor
ABSTRACT
The effects of two nucleoside analogue class of antiretroviral drugs, abacavir sulfate and lamivudine on methaemoglobin concentration and methaemoglobin reductase activity in the erythrocytes of wistar rats were investigated. Drugs at dosage 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8mg/l00g body weight of lamivudine; and 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2mg/l00g body weight of abacavir sulfate were administered orally by intubation. Blood samples were collected from the experimental animals by cardiac puncture. Spectrophometric methods were used to ascertain the methhaemoglobin concentrations and the activity of NADH methaemoglobin reductase (NADH MR). The results revealed that both drugs increased methaemoglobin concentrations. The increase from 1.53±0.11 to 3.53±0.03 in the presence of abacavir sulfate was significant (p<0.05), while lamivudine cause a non-significant (p>0.05) increase from 1.52±0.11 to 1.61±0.03. Methaemoglobin reductase activity decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 5.50±0.13 to 3.74±0.01 in the presence of abacavir sulfate, while the decrease from 5.21±0.09 to 4.90±0.02 due to lamivudine was not significant (p<0.05). To an extent both drugs adversely affected erythrocytes’s metabolism, thus compromising its important role of maintaining haemoglobin in its reduced state for oxygen transport.
Keywords: Antiretroviral drugs Abacavir Sulfate, Lamivudine, Methaemoglobin concentration, Methaemoglobin Reductase, Erythrocyte.