SIX-WEEK TREATMENT WITH UKRAIN IN RABBITS. PART I: MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

JAGIELLO-WÓJTOWICZ E., KLEINROK Z., FELDO M., CHODKOWSKA A., SZPONAR J., URBANSKA E.M.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Lublin, Poland.

Address for correspondence: E. Jagiello-Wójtowicz, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland. Tel/fax:+48-81-747 8924

Summary: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of 6-week treatment with Ukrain in doses of 0.3, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg i.v. on the morphological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood and morphology of body organs in rabbits. Ukrain application did not change the body organs and total body weight. The drug did not affect biochemical parameters of peripheral blood, except for a minor reduction in the total plasma level and increases in serum uric acid and urea indicating enhanced catabolism of proteins. The peripheral erythrocyte and leukocyte counts were not altered, whereas the percentages oflymphocytes, monocytes, and eozynophils were increased after higher doses of Ukrain. An increase in rod neutrophils and a decrease in the percentage of segmented neutrophils were also noted. These observations indicate a lack of organ toxicity following long-term treatment with Ukrain.