Search for: rheumatoid arthritis methotrexate autoimmune disease biomarker gene expression GWAS HLA genes non-HLA genes
| ID | PMID | Title | PublicationDate | abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16943108 | Hepcidin is not a marker of chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis. | 2006 Sep | OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disease and hepcidin, which is reported as an indicator of inflammation. METHODS: A total of 75 subjects between 40 and 70 years of age were included in the study. The patient group consisted of 40 stable patients who had previously experienced an atherosclerotic event (18 women, 22 men; mean age 56.4+/-7.1 years). There were two control groups. The first control group consisted of 19 healthy subjects (11 women, 8 men; mean age 52.6+/- 7.4 years), while the second group included 16 patients (11 women, 5 men; mean age 56.5+/-9.3 years) with rheumatoid arthritis and anemia (diseased control group). Hepcidin measurement was performed using Hepcidin Prohormone ELISA (Solid Phase Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test kit. RESULTS: Mean serum hepcidin levels were 243.2+/-48.8 ng/ml, 374.5+/-86.4 ng/ml, and 234+/-59.9 ng/ml in the patient group, in diseased controls, and in healthy controls, respectively. Hepcidin levels were higher in diseased controls compared to the patient group and healthy controls (p=0.001). There were no significant differences between the patient group and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These findings did not support the hypothesis that hepcidin levels could be increased in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases as a marker of chronic inflammation. | |
| 16720637 | Towards a pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory emerging role of leptin. | 2006 Aug | Leptin is a 16 kDa adipocyte-secreted hormone that regulates weight centrally and links nutritional status with neuroendocrine and immune function. Since its cloning in 1994, leptin's role in regulating immune and inflammatory response has become increasingly evident. Actually, the increase of leptin production that occurs during infection and inflammation strongly suggests that leptin is a part of the cytokines loop which governs the inflammatory-immune response and the host defence mechanism. Indeed, leptin stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from cultured monocytes and enhances the production of Th1 type cytokines from stimulated lymphocytes. Several studies have implicated leptin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic bowel disease. Obesity is characterized by elevated circulating leptin levels which might contribute significantly to the so called low-grade systemic inflammation, making obese individuals more susceptible to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes or inflammatory articular degenerative disease such as osteorathritis (OA). As a matter of fact, a key role for leptin in OA has been recently demonstrated since leptin exhibits, in synergy with other pro-inflammatory cytokines, a detrimental effect on articular cartilage cells by promoting nitric oxide synthesis. This review will focus prevalently on the complex relationships existing among leptin, inflammatory response and immunity, trying to provide surprising insights into leptin's role and to discuss challenges and prospects for the future. | |
| 16622723 | A case of interstitial pneumonia caused by bucillamine: a study using serological markers. | 2006 | The patient was a 61-year-old man diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2001. He initially received treatment at a nearby clinic, but his condition could not be satisfactorily controlled. He subsequently consulted our hospital during the same year. Although his symptoms improved in response to treatment at our hospital, slight fever, cough, and then high fever and dyspnea subsequently developed. A diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia was made on the basis of findings of diagnostic imaging. The time course of changes in serological markers, including surfactant protein A (SP-A), surfactant protein D (SP-D), and KL-6, as well as markers of inflammatory reaction and lactate dehydrogenase was examined to determine the clinical significance of serological markers in the management of interstitial pneumonia. | |
| 16597207 | Probiotics: their role in the treatment and prevention of disease. | 2006 Apr | A probiotic is a "live microbial food ingredients that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, exerts health benefits on the consumer". Probiotics exert their benefits through several mechanisms; they prevent colonization, cellular adhesion and invasion by pathogenic organisms, they have direct antimicrobial activity and they modulate the host immune response. The strongest evidence for the clinical effectiveness of probiotics has been in their use for the prevention of symptoms of lactose intolerance, treatment of acute diarrhea, attenuation of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal side effects and the prevention and treatment of allergy manifestations. More research needs to be carried out to clarify conflicting findings on the use of probiotics for prevention of travelers' diarrhea, infections in children in daycare and dental caries, and elimination of nasal colonization with potentially pathogenic bacteria. Promising ongoing research is being conducted on the use of probiotics for the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis, treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and prevention of relapse, treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, treatment of intestinal inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients, and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. Finally, areas of future research include the use of probiotics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, prevention of cancer and the treatment of graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant recipients. | |
| 16549141 | Outcome of kidney transplantation for renal amyloidosis:a single-center experience. | 2006 Mar | The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the results of kidney transplantation in patients with renal amyloidosis. We analyzed the results of renal transplantation in 13 amyloidotic transplant recipients compared with those in a control group of 13 nonamyloidotic patients. While the etiology of amyloidosis was rheumatoid arthritis in one patient, in all of the others it was secondary to familial Mediterranean fever. Acute rejection episodes developed once in six and twice in one patient. The renal function in these patients was improved by antirejection treatment. Chronic rejection did not develop in any patient. However six patients (46%) died due to various complications despite functional grafts. The others are still being followed with well-functioning grafts. Among the control group, acute and chronic rejection were diagnosed in three and two patients, respectively: one patient returned to hemodialysis after 26 months of transplantation, while the others are still alive with functional grafts. There was no death in the control group. The 5- and 10-year actuarial patient survival rates of the amyloidosis and control groups were 52.2%, 26.6%, and 100%, 100%, respectively (P = .002). However, the graft survivals of the amyloidosis versus control groups were 100%, 100%, versus 87.5%, 87.5, respectively (P = .47). In conclusion, we observed a high rate of early mortality among recipients with amyloidosis associated with infectious complications. Moreover, patient survivals were lower among amyloidotic renal recipients. | |
| 16540268 | Low density multiparticulate system for pulsatile release of meloxicam. | 2006 Apr 26 | A blend of floating and pulsatile principles of drug delivery system would have the advantage that a drug can be released in the upper GI tract after a definite time period of no drug release. A multiparticulate floating-pulsatile drug delivery system was developed using porous calcium silicate (Florite RE) and sodium alginate, for time and site specific drug release of meloxicam. Meloxicam was adsorbed on the Florite RE (FLR) by fast evaporation of solvent from drug solution containing dispersed FLR. Drug adsorbed FLR powder was used to prepare calcium alginate beads by ionotropic gelation method, using 3(2) factorial design. Developed formulations were evaluated for yield, entrapment efficiency, image analysis, surface topography, mechanical strength, apparent density, buoyancy studies and dissolution studies. Entrapment efficiency of different formulations varied from 70% to 94%. Formulations show a lag period ranging from 1.9 to 7.8 h in acidic medium followed by rapid release of meloxicam in simulated intestinal fluid USP, without enzymes (SIF). Complete drug release in SIF occurred in less than 1h from the formulations. The size of beads varied from 2.0 to 2.7 mm for different batches. Prepared beads were spherical with crushing strength ranging from 182 to 1,073 g. Floating time was controlled by density of beads and hydrophobic character of drug. A pulsatile release of meloxicam was demonstrated by a simple drug delivery system which could be useful in chronopharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| 16529558 | Cyclooxygenase inhibitory natural products: current status. | 2006 | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are of huge therapeutic benefit in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and various types of inflammatory conditions. The target for these drugs is cyclooxygenase (COX), a rate-limiting enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid into inflammatory prostaglandins. COX-2 selective inhibitors are believed to have the same anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and analgesic activities as that of nonselective inhibitor NSAIDs with little or none of the gastrointestinal side effects. Thus, in the last 6-7 years several selective COX-2 inhibitors including coxibs were discovered and introduced into clinic. Recent reports evidence that selective COX-2 inhibitor such as rofecoxib, can lead to thrombotic cardiovascular events through inhibition of prostacyclin formation in the infracted heart. This has resulted in withdrawal of rofecoxib from the clinic in September 2004. Moreover, the COX-2/COX-1 selectivity ratio is vital in the design of COX-2 inhibitory drugs, as it is clear from rofecoxib, which is more than 50-fold COX-2 selective. After looking at all above mentioned facts, natural product-based compounds seem better as these compounds are generally supposed to be devoid of severe side effects. The literature indicates that natural product-based compounds are mainly COX-1 selective. Through minor semi-synthetic changes in the structures, their selectivity towards COX-2 can be increased. The present review article addresses natural product COX inhibitors of plant and marine origin, reported during last ten years and their advantages, possible leads for further development and current status. In addition we describe our experience in the characterization, design and synthesis of potential natural COX inhibitors. | |
| 16405263 | [Autoimmune thyroid disease and associated diseases]. | 2005 Oct | Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is a multifactorial, genetic disease. It is the sequelae of the impaired immunoregulation, tolerance and poor recognition of one's own proteins, oligopolysaccharides and polypeptides, due to development of somatic lymphocyte mutations. It is manifested by different clinical and morphological entities, inter-related by etiopathogenetic association, i.e., all of them are caused by disorder of immune system regulation. Chronic autoimmune thyroidism (Thyreoiditis lymphocytaria Hashimoto, HT), as well as immunogenic hyperthyroidism (Morbus Graves Basedow, MGB) are frequently associated with autoimmune diseases of other organs, such as: chronic insufficiency of salivary glands (Sy Sjögren), autoimmune hemolytic anemia, megalocytic pernicious anemia, thrombocytopenia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes mellitus (more often type 2, but also type 1), Morbus Addison, Coeliakia, and other autoimmune diseases such as systemic diseases of connecting tissue (Lupus erythematosus-SLE, Sclerodermia, Vasculitis superficialis). The incidence of autoimmune diseases has been at increase in all age groups of our population. The prevalence of organ-specific and organ-nonspecific antibodies increases with the age. Antigenicity of thyroid epithelial cell may be triggered by different chemical and biological agents (repeated viral infections), repeated stress, and in individuals with genetic propensity. Unrecognized ATD progressively leads to hypothyroidism with hyperlipidemia, blood vessel changes, osteoporosis, deformities, invalidity which substantially reduces the quality of life of patient and requires medical attention and expensive treatment on what account it is medically and socio-economically significant. Multiple diagnostic procedures contribute to faster recognition of this condition. The goal of the primary health care physician (given that preclinical phase of ATD and other associated diseases have different duration) and other specialists is to recognize ATD and, by early diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment, to take secondary preventive measures of manifestation of above-mentioned associated autoimmune diseases, and in that way, to avoid the development of comorbidity and complications. It is particularly supported by medical doctrine based on evidence of application of corticosteroids, cytostatics, thyro-suppressive and substitution therapy, antilipemics, bisphosphonates and other drugs, significant for autoimmune diseases. | |
| 16189319 | Differences in the views of orthopaedic surgeons and referring practitioners on the determ | 2005 Oct | In order to assess current opinions on the long-term outcome after primary total hip replacement, we performed a multicentre, cross-sectional survey in 22 centres from 12 European countries. Different patient characteristics were categorised into 'decreases chances', 'does not affect chances', and 'increases chances' of a favourable long-term outcome, by 304 orthopaedic surgeons and 314 referring practitioners. The latter were less likely to associate age older than 80 years and obesity with a favourable outcome than orthopaedic surgeons (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively) and more likely to associate age younger than 50 years with a favourable outcome (p = 0.006). Comorbidity, rheumatoid arthritis, and poor bone quality were thought to be associated with a decreased chance of a favourable outcome. We found important differences in the opinions regarding long-term outcome after total hip replacement within and between referring practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons. These are likely to affect access to and the provision of total hip replacement. | |
| 16178743 | Structural comparison of p38 inhibitor-protein complexes: a review of recent p38 inhibitor | 2005 | Small molecule inhibition of protein kinases in the treatment of significant diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis has attracted significant attention over the past two decades and has clearly become one of the most significant challenges for drug discovery in the 21st century. While the recent identification of 518 different kinases in the human genome has offered a wealth of opportunities for drug intervention in the treatment of these diseases, it has also created a daunting challenge with respect to selective kinase inhibition as a viable strategy in target-based drug design. Over the past decade, the design and development of a small molecule that selectively inhibits the p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase has clearly emerged as one of these challenges within the industry. This review will focus on the comparison of the x-ray crystal structures and binding models of the most recent p38 inhibitor-enzyme complexes and the identification of the structural elements and interactions that may be important in providing inhibitor potency and selectivity toward the p38 MAP kinase. | |
| 16078559 | [Construction of interleukin-18-PE38 fusion gene eukaryotic expression vector and its expr | 2005 Jul | OBJECTIVE: To construct the interleukin-18-PE38 fusion gene expression vector and explore the expression of the fusion gene in the chondrocyte. METHODS: The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector PsecTag2B-IL-18-PE38 was constructed by inserting interleukin-18-PE38 fusion gene into eukaryotic expression vector PsecTag2B with molecular cloning technique. It was confirmed by restrictive enzymes (EcoR I) digestion assay and PCR. The vector was transfected into primary chrondrocyte by liposome protocol, and the transient expression was identified by fluorescence immunocytochemical assay. RESULTS: Restrictive enzymes digestion analysis and PCR revealed that the interleukin-18-PE38 fusion gene was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector PsecTag2B successfully. Immunofluorescence photograph of fluorescence immunocytochemical method confirmed that the fusion gene can be expressed in the cytomembrane and cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that PsecTag2B-IL-18-PE38 fusion gene can be expressed in the chondrocyte, which could serve as a foundation for the study on rheumatoid arthritis therapy. | |
| 16051375 | The glycopeptide CSF114(Glc) detects serum antibodies in multiple sclerosis. | 2005 Oct | Synthetic glycopeptides have the potential to detect antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we analyzed the antibodies (IgM class, IgG class and IgG subclasses) to the synthetic glycopeptide CSF114(Glc) in the serum of 186 MS patients, 166 blood donors (BDs), 25 patients affected by meningitis/encephalitis, 41 affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 49 affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The IgM antibody level to CSF114(Glc) was significantly increased in MS patients versus BDs (p<0.001) or versus other autoimmune diseases (SLE or RA, p<0.001). The IgG response was restricted to the subclass IgG2. IgM antibodies to CSF114(Glc) were found in 30% of relapsing/remitting MS patients and, at lower levels, in subjects affected by meningitis/encephalitis. The study of antibodies to CSF114(Glc) is a new, potential immunological marker of MS. | |
| 15952187 | Effects of fish oil treatment on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. | 2006 Sep | Bleomycin is an antibiotic used to treat a variety of neoplasms. A major side-effect of bleomycin therapy is the induction of an intense inflammatory response that develops into pulmonary fibrosis. Several studies have shown that certain polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil reduce the inflammatory response in vivo. Fish oil has been employed for the treatment of several pathologies such as glomerulonephritis, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and even as an adjuvant in cancer therapy. This study examined the effects of fish oil treatment on the development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Mice were intraperitoneally treated with bleomycin or with saline daily for 10 days, and 15 days after the last injection they started to receive fish oil by gavage for 14 days. The lungs were processed for light microscopy, biochemical and immunohistochemical investigations. Fish oil did not prevent the development of pulmonary fibrosis after the injury as shown by light microscopy, cytokines immunohistochemical analysis, TBARS content and protein levels in the lung. In addition however, fish oil itself induced a slight inflammatory process in the lung, as observed by the increase in cellularity, vasodilatation in the lung parenchyma, TBARS content, and a slight increase in the lung protein content. | |
| 15854941 | Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with connective tissue diseases. | 2005 May | BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with connective tissue disease. Few reports exist on the results of surgical management of coronary artery disease in these patients. METHODS: The medical records of patients with connective tissue diseases who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at our institution between 1995 and 2002 were reviewed for demographic data, perioperative variables, and postoperative complications. The results were compared with data from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were identified from a total of 5,496 cases during the study period (0.8%). There were 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 8 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 1 with scleroderma. Patients with connective tissue diseases were more likely to be women and use immunomodulating agents. They also had a higher incidence of Canadian Cardiovascular Society class IV angina, need for inotropic agents, need for intraaortic balloon pulsation, use of blood transfusions, and leg wound infections. The use of steroids or other immunomodulating agents was associated with increased postoperative complications. Mean follow-up was 35 months. The overall survival and freedom from reintervention at 3 years were 89% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting is a safe treatment modality in patients with connective tissue diseases, with acceptable early results. Wound complications may be a problem in this patient population. Midterm results are less favorable, and reinterventions are frequently required. | |
| 15804702 | Autoantibodies to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. | 2005 Feb | Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are among the most abundant proteins in the eukaryotic cell nucleus and play a direct role in several aspects of the RNA life including splicing, export of the mature RNAs and translation. To date, approximately 30 proteins have been identified. A growing body of evidence points to hnRNPs as an important target of the autoimmune response in rheumatic diseases. Autoantibodies to A and B proteins of the hnRNP complex have been detected in late 1980s in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Beyond their role as diagnostic test in clinical practice, these autoantibodies are starting to be regarded as important tools to obtain deeper insight into the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, new anti-hnRNP antibodies have been recognized in the last ten years extending the spectrum of anti-hnRNP reactivity in different autoimmune disorders. | |
| 15798553 | [Therapeutic intensification and autologous stem cell transplantation in autoimmune diseas | 2005 Feb 26 | THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of most autoimmune diseases is often poorly understood. EXPERIMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS and clinical experience suggest that high doses immunoablation followed by stem cell transplantation is a therapeutic option to consider for certain severe autoimmune disorders. THE CONCEPT OF RESTORING NORMAL IMMUNE REACTIVITY must in part br true since current results of 466 transplants (445 autologous, 21 allogeneic) patients suffering from various autoimmune diseases show a beneficial outcome in approximately 2/3 of the patients. TO IMPROVE THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE PROCEDURE in patients with potentially affected vital organs by the underlying autoimmune disease, it is especially important to follow international consensus guidelines and to centrally collect clinical data for in depth analysis in the EBMT International Stem Cell Project for Autoimmune Disease in Basel, Switzerland. PHASE III STUDIES ARE RUNNING FOR SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (Astis, Autologous Stem cell Transplantation International Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial) started in 2003. A STUDY PROJECT IS PLANNED FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (Astims, Autologous Stem cell Transplantation International Multiple Sclerosis). | |
| 15737798 | What to learn from in vivo opioidergic brain imaging? | 2005 Apr | Ligand-PET studies are attracting increasing interest in experimental and clinical research. As the most elaborated of PET techniques, ligand-PET allows the demonstration of receptor distributions, and thus, the delineation of neurochemical pathologies in the disease state. Recent developments are promising that ligand-PET will even allow to characterize dynamic and short-term changes in neurotransmission and will tremendously add to the understanding of neurophysiology on the receptor level. In pain studies, mainly the mu-opioidergic agonist [(11)C]-carfentanil and the unspecific opioid receptor antagonist [(11)C]-diprenorphine are applied. Utilizing these ligands the thalamus, prefrontal and cingulate cortex, basal ganglia and midbrain structures have been shown to possess high amounts of opioidergic receptors in vivo and it is well accepted, that the receptor density is higher in projections of the medial than those of the lateral pain system. Changes in receptor availability were observed in patients suffering from chronic pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, trigeminal neuralgia and central poststroke pain (CPSP) all lead to decreased ligand binding in pain processing regions during the painful period in comparison to pain free intervals or healthy subjects. These decreases may either be the consequence of increased endogenous release or indicate receptor internalization/down-regulation or loss of neurons carrying these receptors. Recent studies also evidenced [(11)C]-carfentanil binding changes due to acute experimental pain. One possible interpretation of these changes is that the PET-ligand might be displaced by endogenous opioidergic ligands. One major region, where this "ligand displacement" was observed, was the thalamus. These findings highlight the importance of the opioidergic system in pain processing and the power of ligand-PET to advance the understanding of pain. | |
| 15693113 | B cell-targeted therapy in diseases other than rheumatoid arthritis. | 2005 Feb | There are now numerous case reports and small series using rituximab in autoimmune diseases. While these data must be interpreted with caution, they suggest that rituximab (RTX) may be a promising addition to the therapeutic armamentarium. In patients with refractory chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, treatment with RTX was effective in inducing complete responses in a significant proportion of patients, and these responses were usually durable. RTX has also been shown to be effective and well tolerated in children with refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In patients with IgM antibody-associated polyneuropathy, RTX improved muscle strength, and repeated treatments over 2 years were well tolerated. In several case series of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, depletion of B cells during RTX therapy was associated with improvement in global disease activity. Based on these reports, further controlled studies are warranted to optimize RTX as monotherapy and to develop combination therapies in patients with refractory autoimmune diseases. | |
| 15607128 | Inhibitors of mast cell tryptase beta as therapeutics for the treatment of asthma and infl | 2005 | A survey of the available biological data on tryptase inhibitors suggests that there is considerable interest in tryptase as a therapeutic target particularly for the treatment of allergic asthma and inflammatory disorders. This interest was driven primarily by data from studies carried out on the cellular and in vivo actions of this serine protease over the past decade, all of which have suggested a pro-inflammatory role for tryptase. Tryptase beta is the form of interest in allergic asthma and the data from numerous studies have shown that tryptase cannot only contribute to airway bronchoconstriction and hyperresponsiveness, but may have a key role in fibrosis and ECM turnover, hallmarks of the remodeling process. Hence, inhibitors of tryptase have the potential to make an impact on fibrosis and airway wall remodelling. However, few studies, if any, have been carried out to determine the effect of tryptase inhibitors on airway remodeling and this is an area that warrants further investigation with the appropriate models because the eventual positioning of tryptase inhibitors in asthma therapy will be strengthened by data supporting an impact on airway remodeling in addition to effects on bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This review has focused on tryptase inhibitors in the pipeline and it is clear that with a few exceptions, the majority of these compounds are targeted for inhaled delivery. Finally, judging by the interest from numerous pharmaceutical companies, it appears the stage is set for tryptase inhibitors to make their mark as drugs of the future for allergic asthma and the results from clinical trials is awaited with eager anticipation. | |
| 17209307 | Some histological effects of chronic administration of chloroquine on the medial geniculat | 2006 Jun | Some histological effects of chronic administration of chloroquine commonly used for prophylaxis or treatment of malaria. rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus on the medial geniculate body (MGB) of adult wistar rats was carefully studied. The rats of both sexes (n= 18), average weight of 184g were randomly assigned into treatment (n= 10) and control (n=7) groups. The rats in the treatment group received 2mg/kg body weight of chloroquine base dissolved in distilled water daily for fourteen days through the orogastric tube administration while the control rats received equal volume of distilled water daily through the same route. The rats were fed with rat pellets purchased from Topfeed Ltd. Sapele. Delta State. Nigeria and given water liberally and were then sacrificed on day fifteen of the experiment. The MGB were carefully dissected out and quickly fixed in 10% formal saline for routine histological study after H & E and thionin methods. The histological findings after H & E methods indicated that the treated sections of the MGB showed faintly reduced nuclei size, with the presence of many autophagic vacuoles and degenerative neurons when compared to the control sections. On the other hand. the thionin method indicated that the treated sections showed sparsely distributed neurons, which stain less intensely when compared with the control. The nissl substance in some of the neurons appeared degenerative while some hypertrophied with some vacuolations. These findings indicated that chronic administration of chloroquine has a deleterious effect on the neurons and nissl substance of the MGB. Chloroquine may probably have adverse effects on auditory sensibilities by its deleterious effects on the nerve cells and nissl substances of the MGB of the adult wistar rats. It is recommended that further studies aimed at corroborating these observations be carried out. |