Protective role of anti-oxidant against caecal ulcerogenicity by diclofenac sodium in albino rats

To evaluate the protective role of vitamin-E [alpha-tocopherol] on caecal ulcerogenicity of diclofenac sodium administration in albino rats. An animal study carried on experimental albino rats. The study was carried out in the department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from 2001 to 2002. Diclofenac sodium and vitamin-E were administered to male albino rats separately and simultaneously at a dose of 2 mg/kg/body weight [for each drug] orally once daily for two weeks. These animals were sacrificed. Caeca were identified and removed, opened along mesenteric border, stretched and examined under dissecting microscope. The severity of erosions and ulcers was rated according to an arbitrary scale of Bonta. The caecum was then fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraplast. 4 micro m thick sections were cut on rotary microtome and stained with haematoxylin and eosin [H and E]. The histomorphological features of caecal mucosa were compared with those in the control animals and analyzed statistically. The study revealed that diclofenac sodium administration in albino rats produced ulcerative changes in caecal mucosa and simultaneously vitamin-E protected caecal ulcerogenicity. These results suggest that diclofenac sodium causes severe caecal mucosal damage in albino rats, however, could be protected by simultaneous administration of vitamin-E in albino rats