Effect of tetracycline on pancreas and liver function of adult male albino rats

The effect of tetracycline, at two doses of 50 and 200 mg kg(-1) daily, was studied on pancreatic and liver tissue function for 14 and 21 days in adult male albino rats. For pancreatic function the parameters studied were content of amylase and lipase in pancreas, serum amylase and lipase, serum glucose and faecal fat excretion. For liver function, liver specific enzymes in serum, namely alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were estimated. In addition, total lipid, antiperoxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation were measured in pancreas and liver. The content of amylase and lipase in pancreas showed a small but significant decrease in the rats given 50 mg kg(-1) for 21 days and the decrease was much more significant in those receiving the 200 mg kg(-1) dose. In pancreas free radical levels show a significant increase and reduced glutathione shows a substantial decrease at the 50 mg kg(-1) level and a significant change in these parameters was observed at the 200 mg kg(-1) dose. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase, showed a small but significant decrease in the pancreas of the rats treated with 50 mg kg(-1) tetracycline. A significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes level was observed at the 200 mg kg(-1) dose. In the liver, free radical levels and reduced glutathione were within the normal range at the 50 mg kg(-1) level and significant changes were observed at 200 mg kg(-1). The antioxidant status was unaffected in liver after treatment with tetracycline at the 50 mg kg(-1) level and a significant decrease was observed at the higher dose. Our results reveal the safe nature of tetracycline with respect to the liver at the lower dose tested, whereas, both the higher and lower doses seem to have detrimental effect on the pancreas as revealed by the rise in free radical levels and decrease in the antioxidant enzyme levels.