Effect of Dexamethasone in Feed on Intestinal Permeability, Differential White Blood Cell and Immune Organs in Rabbits

¹Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

²Department of Pharmocology, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author: Allah Bux Kachiwal, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; Email: [email protected]

Received Date: February 25, 2024

Publication Date: March 25, 2024

Citation: Kachiwal AB, et al. (2024). Effect of Dexamethasone in Feed on Intestinal Permeability, Differential White Blood Cell and Immune Organs in Rabbits. Gastro Res. 3(1):7.

Copyright: Kachiwal AB, et al. © (2024). 

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of stress on intestinal permeability induced by administration of dexamethasone in feed. Male albino rabbits (n=10) was purchased from local market of Hyderabad and brought to Animal House, FAHVS SAU Tandojam. Rabbits were assigned to the two groups; Group A (control) and group B (dexamethasone fed). Rabbits were kept in a monitored facility with full access to food and water that was age-appropriate.  For the rest of the trial, the DEXF treatment group was switched to feed containing DEXF1X (0.57 ppm) on day 3. The results revealed that dexamethasone-fed rabbits (Group B) exhibited a significant decrease in body weight (2104±28.66g) compared to the control group (Group A) (2506±45.81g). The serum fluorescein Isothiocyanate dextrin level in group -B was significantly ( P<0.05) Higher (0.29±0.3 kg/ml) than that of rabbits in group A ( control ) with mean serum FTTC-D (0.22±0.01 kg/ml) Total liver aerobic bacteria in group -B supplemented dexamethasone fed was significantly ( P<0.05) Higher (1.2± 0.45log10 Cfu/g) than that of rabbits in group -A (control) with mean total liver aerobic bacteria (0.13 ± 0.05 Log10 cfu/g ). The WBC count was significantly higher in Group B (9.74±1.22 ×10^3/µL) than in Group A (7.02±0.48 ×10^3/µL). Heterophils count was significantly elevated in Group B (40.44±7.42%) compared to Group A (25.08±5.32%). Lymphocytes count was significantly lower in Group B (46.12±5.32%) compared to Group A (58.12±4.67%). Monocytes count showed no significant difference between the groups, with Group A (8.26±1.47%) being slightly higher than Group B (6.96±1.83%). Eosinophils count was significantly lower in Group B (3.70±1.22%) compared to Group A (5.72±1.07%). Basophils count showed no significant difference between the groups, with Group A (2.84±0.57%) being slightly higher than Group B (2.68±0.30%). The H/L ratio was significantly higher in Group B (0.87±0.02) than in Group A (0.43±0.01). Effect of dexamethasone on lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and Intestine Morphology was observed through histological study. Thymic lobule length was significantly lower in Group B (380±2.30 µm) compared to Group A (520±4.97 µm). Thymic lobule width was significantly lower in Group B (180±1.73 µm) compared to Group A (240±2.66 µm). White pulp length was significantly lower in Group B (340±6.14 µm) compared to Group A (470±7.27 µm). White pulp width was significantly lower in Group B (140±1.74 µm) compared to Group A (220±3.82 µm). These findings indicate that dexamethasone administration in the feed of rabbits leads to a decrease in body weight, altered WBC count, increased heterophils count, decreased lymphocytes count, reduced eosinophils count, and an elevated H/L ratio. Additionally, dexamethasone adversely affects thymic lobule length and width, as well as white pulp length and width in the thymus and spleen, respectively.

Keywords: Blood profile, Spleen histology, Dexamethazone, Thymus, Body weight, Rabbit