Study of Histopathology of Rat Liver under the Effects of Dexmedetomidine during Experimental Sepsis

Introduction: The Food and Drug Administration Authority has approved a new antidepressant dexmedetomidine for use in critical care units. Dexmedetomidine is an imidazole compound with a high affinity for alpha-2 adrenoceptors, known for its anti-anxiety effect and minimal respiratory difficulty. Patients admitted to critical care units need prolonged sedation and require agents like dexmedetomidine. The leading cause of death in hospitals is sepsis which is a disorder resulting from the response of the host to infectious substances. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to identify the histopathological changes in rat liver on administering dexmedetomidine during septicemia. Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted in the animal house of the Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore over 4 weeks. Material and Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Female rats weighing 200-250 grams were taken for 4 weeks. One week before the experiment, animals were adapted in the lab maintained at 22 ± 2°C, with a continuous 12-hour light/dark cycle.. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The control group did not show any significant changes. Three mortalities were observed in the toxic groups Total scoring of pathological alterations in the liver was done. The hepatic tissue scoring of the control group was 0.4±0.52. In the septic group, it was 1.5±0.80 & in the dexmedetomidine groups it was 4.5±0.9. The differences in variations of tissues were statistically significant. Conclusion: The study concludes that dexmedetomidine induces beneficial changes in the histopathology of rat liver during sepsis.