Journal de cytologie et d'histologie

Background: Ketamine has sedative, dissociative anesthetic and analgesic properties. Ketamine and its metabolites induced hepatic damage with chronic use for treatment of chronic pain. This study examined the effects of single intraperitoneal ketamine doseon adult male albino rats’ liver by applying histological and immunohistochemical methods.

Methods: After institutional animal research ethical committee approval, thirty healthy adult male albino rats were equally divided into three groups. Group I received Intraperitoneal (IP) saline in a similar volume to IP ketamine given in group II and III. Group II and Group III had 120 and 160 mg. Kg^-1 body weight ketamine single intraperitoneal dose respectively. After 3 days’ rats were killed by decapitation and parts of their livers were processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) and Mallory trichrome for light microscope examination. Immunohistochemical examination for cyclooxygenase II enzyme (Cox II) was performed and the optical density of the reaction was calculated. Also, blood samples were taken from tail veins to measure Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) levels.

Results: H and E examination revealed normal hepatic architecture in rats’ liver that received normal saline (Group I). Hepatocytes were mildly affected in Group II. Marked affection of hepatocytes in group III with loss of normal hepatic architecture. Mild increase in connective tissue appeared after Mallory trichrome stain in group II, while more increase in group III was seen in the portal area. Also, liver enzyme Aspartate Transaminase (AST) level increased significantly in group II and III compared to group I. In addition, there was a significant increase in Alanine Transaminase (ALT) level only in group III when compared to group I and II.

Conclusion: It appears that single intraperitoneal doses of 120 mg and 160 mg ketamine can cause variable histological changes and damage in rats' liver.