Effect of Meloxicam on Hematological and Kidney Histopathological Changes in Male Mice

Introduction: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are class of medications that frequently utilized as analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy. Meloxicam is type of NSAIDs that classified as selective COX 2 inhibitor, which is considered more protective than traditional nonselective COX1 inhibitor. However, meloxicam was approved by other researches in recent years to cause renal damage.

Aim of the Study: Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate effect of meloxicam on kidney of mice related with some blood parameter studies.

Methods: Fifteen male mice were divided into two groups; one group of five mice served as control and received only distilled water. While the second group was treated with meloxicam 0.4 mg/kg which administrated daily by oral gastric gavage for 10 days. After 24 hours of the last dose animals were sacrificed, their kidneys were then removed and processed for histological examination by light microscope. Blood samples were collected by right atria and analyzed for complete blood count. The data of blood studies was presented as mean ±SEM.

Results: Sections obtained from meloxicam treated animals showed focal areas of glomerular sclerosis, shrunken glomeruli appeared with reduction of blood capillaries, presence of acidophilic materials in the capsular space and proliferation of parietal layers of bowman’s capsule forming crescent shape, which further cause obliteration of urinary space. Tubules showed degenerative changes in the form of cytoplasmic vacuolization and nuclear pyknosis, PAS staining revealed depletion of carbohydrate materials of cell coats giving negativity of the stain. There was interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration and hemorrhage. While evaluation of complete blood picture showed non-significant differences (P>0.05) in Hb, HCT, RBCs count, WBCs count, MCV, MCH and MCHC of both treated animals and control group.

Conclusion: It should be concluded that meloxicam is like other traditional non-selective COX 1 inhibitor in terms of their toxic effect on renal tissue.