Effects of halofantrine hydrochloride (halfan) on the histology of the ovary of mature female Wistar rats.

Halofantrine hydrochloride (halfan) was administered via oral route to matured female wistar rats weighing 180-200 g. The Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into six groups of four rats each, making a total of twenty four rats and coded A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3. Groups A3 and B3 were used as controls. Three consecutive doses of 1 mg/100 g halfan each were administered to group A1 at six hourly intervals while three doses of 2 mg/100 g halfan each were administered to group A2 at six hourly intervals. The animals were sacrificed on the 5th day after drug administration by cervical dislocation. Animals in groups B1 and B2 were given doses corresponding to A1 and A2 respectively, but in addition drug administration was repeated the fifth day following the day of first administration. The animals in this group were sacrificed on the tenth day by cervical dislocation, the ovaries were removed, blotted dry, fixed in 10% formal saline for histological processing and studies. Histological changes observed in the ovary include retarded growth of follicles, reduction in size and number of follicles, increase in cytoplasmic vacuolation, constriction of blood vessels, absence of corpora lutae and cases of cellular necrosis. These alterations were more pronounced in those groups sacrificed on the tenth day.

Thirst perception in dehydrated sickle cell disease patients in steady state.

Liberal fluid intake is one of the key management strategies in sickle cell anaemia [SCA] patients in steady state, but less work has been done on the desire of patients to drink water. Using the Visual Analogue Scale we studied thirst perception [TP] in 20 euhydrated SCA patients and 28 control [HbA] subjects, as well as during dehydration in 13 SCA patients and 9 HbA subjects. Serum and urine samples were collected and analyzed for Na, K ions, creatinine concentrations and haematocrit and specific gravity of urine were determined. During euhydration, TP was significantly [P<0.05] higher in male SCA patients compared to the HbA subjects. In females, TP in SCA patient was not statistically significant compared with HbA subjects. After 13 hours of dehydration, TP was significantly [P<0.05] reduced in female. While dehydration increased TP in HbA subjects, it reduced TP in SCA patients. Fluid intakes after dehydration in SCA patients were not significantly different from the control HbA subjects in both male and female. It can be concluded that female SCA patients do not have normal response to dehydration with regards to TP after a period of dehydration. Since dehydration stimulates the release of vasoactive hormones like vasopressin, this may explain why female patients are less prone to crisis than their male counterparts.