Histo-morphological evaluations of the cerebellum in dihydrocodeine-treated rat models

Abstract

The dihydrocodeine and dihydrocodeine-containing drugs have been used by opioid addicts as a substitute drug to heroin as it has similar metabolic pathways as codeine. In this study we assessed the histopathological and deleterious effects of DHC on the cerebellum of rats using different staining methods. Thirty-six Adult male Wistar weighing (110 ± 10 g) were randomly divided into three (3) groups (A-C, of 12 rats each). Group A served as the control (treated with 5ml/kg normal saline), group B and C rats received 15 mg/kg and 25mg/kg dihydrocodeine receptively via oropharyngeal cannula for 14days. The rats were sacrificed, and the cerebellum was processed. Each section was stained with Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Cresyl fast violet, and Luxol fast blue for basic and advanced histological demonstrations. Results showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in body weight of group B (117.42±6.50) and group C (146.17±12.62) when compared to control group (117.42±6.50). Sections from the DHC-induced group had extensive areas of neuronal loss and showed evidence of several degeneration of Purkinje cell, fusiform-shaped nuclei of neuronal cell bodies that were centrally positioned. The cytoplasm seemed eosinophilic. Varying degree of cellular modifications including pyknosis of the nuclei were observed when compared with negative control group (group A). These were evident by a significant (p<0.05) decrease molecular layer thickness, number of purkinje and granular cells of group B when compared to control group. Dihydrocodeine has a deleterious effect on the cerebellar architecture of Wistar rats