Effects of Oral Ingestion of Flunitrazepam and Alcohol Mixture on the Cerebellum of the Adult Wistar Rat

Abstract

Flunitrazepam is a central nervous system depressant in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Alcohol has been known for many years as a cause of various diseases and conditions, including: mental and behavioral disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. This study is therefore aimed at investigating the histoarchitectural changes that occur in the cerebellum when flunitrazepam and alcohol cocktail are given to adult Wistar rats. Forty two (42) adult Wistar rats weighing 130-150 g were used for this study and were randomly assigned into six groups: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 which had 7 rats each. Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 received distilled water, 0.2ml (normal dose) of flunitrazepam drug, 1ml of 30% distilled alcohol, 0.1ml (low dose) of flunitrazepam drug, 0.4ml (high dose) of flunitrazepam drug and 0.2ml of flunitrazepam drug and 1ml of 30% distilled alcohol, respectively. Tissue processing and the open field test were carried out according to established methods. Normal cerebellar microstructure was observed in Group 2. Cerebellar oedema, atrophy of Purkinje cells and vascular congestion were observed in groups 3 and 4, while group 5 and 6 showed cerebellar oedema and Purkinje cell proliferation. Open field test parameters were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings revealed increased locomotory and exploratory activities in groups 2, 4, 5 and 6, while significantly (P<0.05) decreased exploratory/anxiety levels were observed in groups 5 and 6. The findings from this study showed that flunitrazepam and alcohol cocktail have deleterious effects on the histoarchitecture and behavioural parameters of the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats.
Keywords: Flunitrazepam, Alcohol, Cerebellum, Open field test, Wistar rats