Tetracyclines have been used extensively as broad-spectrum antibiotics. They are effective against a wide variety of human diseases and animal caused by different microbial pathogens. The mode of Tetracycline action is reversibly inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis by binding with the prokaryotic 30S ribosomal subunit that prevents the association of aminoacyl-tRNA with the ribosomal target site and subsequently inhibits protein synthesis. Toxicity of tetracycline antibiotics was proven, by many studies, in which induction of fatty liver, acute pancreatitis, severe hepato-nephrotoxicity, contribute to the development and severity of microvesicular steatosis, increase in the triglycerides, AST, ALT, bilirubin, urea, creatinine and gamma-globulin levels. Histological analysis of liver samples of tetracycline-treated rats revealed high vacuolation of the cytoplasm of hepatic cells, sinusoidal dilation, hepatocellular necrosis and disappearance of the cell membrane in some hepatocytes. Tetracycline can also cause chromosomal abnormalities as well as interfere with male fertility.
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