Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor protection against tramadol-induced changes in the adrenal cortex of adult male albino rats: histology, immunohistology, endocrine, and ultrastructure aspects

Tramadol (TRM) is a centrally acting analgesic drug used for management of moderate to severe pain. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that has the ability to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral circulation. This study was performed to evaluate the histological and biochemical alterations in the adrenal cortex after intake of tramadol and the possible protective role of G-CSF on it. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I as a control group, group II (TRM treated group) received a daily dose of 80 mg/kg body weight orally via gastric tube for 12 weeks and group III (TRM+G-CSF-treated group) received subcutaneous injections of 100 μg/kg body weight of G-CSF for seven consecutive days, then TRM from the 8th day to the end of the experiment in the same dose as group II. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for hormonal essay and tissue samples were processed. Light and electron microscopic studies were done. Morphometric and statistical studies were carried out. The study revealed that TRM induced histological and ultrastructural degenerative changes, decreased serum levels of aldosterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone, as well as a strong positive Bax immune reaction. However, G-CSF reversed these alterations and showed a strong positive CD34 immune reaction. In conclusion: G-CSF improved histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical metrics in the rat adrenal cortex after tramadol-induced injury.