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Dose‐Dependent Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Changes After Oral Methylphenidate Administration in Rat Heart Tissue
Author(s) -
Take G.,
Bahcelioglu M.,
Oktem H.,
Tunc E.,
Gözil R.,
Erdogan D.,
Calguner E.,
Helvacıoglu F.,
Giray S. G.,
Elmas C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2008.00845.x
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , immunohistochemistry , ventricle , ultrastructure , saline , medicine , pathology , pharmacology , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , psychiatry
Summary Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, is a piperidine derivative and is the drug most often used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, one of the most common behavioural disorders of children and young adults. Our aims were to investigate dose‐dependent immunohistochemical D2 expression and ultrastructural changes of the rat heart tissue, and to demonstrate possible toxicity of the long‐term and high dose use of the methylphenidate. In this study, 27 female pre‐pubertal Wistar albino rats, divided into three different dose groups (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and their control groups, were used. They were treated orally with methylphenidate dissolved in saline solution for 5 days/week during 3 months. At the end of the third month, after perfusion fixation, left ventricle of cardiac tissue was removed. Paraffin, semi‐thin and thin sections were collected and immunohistochemical, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated Dig‐dUTP nick end labelling assay and ultrastructural studies were performed. In conclusion, we believe that Ritalin is dose‐related affecting dopaminergic system to increase heart rhythm and contraction. Thus, this drug may cause degenerative ultrastructural changes in mitochondrial path.