The Effect of Hydrocortisone on the Spleen of Albino Rats

Abstract

The study of the short-term effect of hydrocortisone on the spleen was conducted using thirty male Albino (Wistar) rats, which were separated at random into three groups (A, B and C). The first test group (A) was given 15mg/kg bodyweight of hydrocortisone daily intramuscularly (IM), while the second test group (B) was given 7.5mg/kg body weight of hydrocortisone daily intramuscularly. The third group (C) was used as the primary control group and as such was given normal saline through the same route. The administration of the drug lasted for 7 days. Histological examination of eh spleen showed changes in the lymphoid tissue of the splenic nodules. These changes range from paleness of eh lymphoid nodules to disappearance of some germinal centers of eh spleen. These changes have been observed to be dose dependent and may be as a result of degeneration or mobilization of lymphocytes and monocytes from the lymphoid nodules of the spleen caused by hydrocortisone administration.