Effects of Alprazolam Administration on the Vital Organs of Adult Wister Albino Rats, Biochemical and Toxicological Studies

  Objective: Effect of Benzodiazepine group of drugs Alprazolam is investigated on different vital organs of Wister albino rat. Materials and Methods: The rats (n=6) were treated with normal doses of Alprazolam for two months along with a placebo group (n=6). After the treatment blood samples were collected and then the rats were sacrificed to collect the tissues of heart, liver and kidney. Results: The levels of enzymes ALT/SGPT, AST/SGOT and the signaling molecule NO were estimated. It was seen that the levels of all these three parameters were increased in all the treated rats. NO is a very important chemical messenger and cellular signaling molecule. Increased level of NO in the tissues of vital organs can modulate the normal physiological and cellular processes and homeostasis of the body in many ways. The NO mediated macrophage activation may also be influenced by the Benzodiazepine (BDZ) group of drugs. So, it’s a very important finding from the clinical point of view. Prolonged use of Alprazolam shows different contraindications and affects different vital organs and systems of the body. To know how the drug affects heart, liver and kidney the levels of two clinically important enzymes like ALT/ SGPT and AST/ SGOT were measured in serum and tissue extracts of rat. These two enzymes are very good indicator of cardiac and hepatic health. Results of the experiments show that levels of both the enzymes were increased in serum and tissue extracts, particularly in the tissue extract of heart. Conclusion: So, from our above studies it can be concluded that there is a relation between increase of NO and the increase of levels of clinically important enzymes. As a result, before frequent and prolonged administration of the drug Alprazolam, further detailed study is needed regarding its effect on different vital organs and cellular and physiological processes.