Cytotoxicity associated with acute and chronic administration of synthetic cannabinoids “Strox” in the brain, liver, heart, and testes of male albino rats: histological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background Synthetic cannabinoids are one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances that invaded Egypt’s drug abuse market over the past few years. Aim Randomized controlled trial study to demonstrate the effects of acute and chronic toxicity by synthetic cannabinoid (Strox) on the brain, liver, heart, and testes in adult male albino rats through histopathological examination by light microscope and immunohistochemistry. Methods Total number of fifty male albino rats were divided into five different groups, two control and three treated groups. Negative and positive control groups received distilled water and dimethyl sulfoxide, respectively, acute group received LD50 (lethal dose 50) once and observed for 14 days, chronic group received 1/10 LD50 for 3 months, and finally chronic withdrawal groups received 1/10 LD50 for 3 months and then left 2 weeks without the substance to observe the withdrawal manifestations. Results The current study revealed various histopathological changes in all organs with increased expression of cannabinoid receptor 1. The most important findings observed by light microscope examination were shrinkage and degenerative changes in Purkinje cells in brain sections, abnormalities in blood sinusoids and architecture in liver section, disruption in cardiac muscle fiber in heart sections, and finally testes showed irregularities in seminiferous tubules and germinal cells. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 in the brain, liver, and heart showed weak-positive reaction in acute group and a strong reaction with chronic groups. Additionally, increase in collagen fiber was observed in sections of the liver and heart of chronic group. Conclusions Synthetic cannabinoid sample (Strox) toxicity caused adverse effects on the brain, liver, heart, and testes as shown by increasing cannabinoid receptor 1 and caspase-3 expression.

Toxic effects of AB-CHMINACA on liver and kidney and detection of its blood level in adult male mice

“…However, the histopathological results of the present study are close to those reported in acute toxicity studies of other SCs, as mentioned by Abass et al [ 23 ] and Bakdash et al [ 24 ], who explored the LD 50 of voodoo extract and THJ-2201 in rodents. Similarly, Abdelmoneim et al [ 41 ] mentioned comparable results after chronic oral administration of Strox in Rats. The biochemical assay in the present study showed an increase in serum AST in the higher-dose group and no change in serum ALT which can be explained by injecting low doses of AB-CHMINACA and the liver's capacity to compensate for damage to an extent to preserve its function.…”

“…The biochemical assay in the present study showed an increase in serum AST in the higher-dose group and no change in serum ALT which can be explained by injecting low doses of AB-CHMINACA and the liver's capacity to compensate for damage to an extent to preserve its function. Furthermore, AST is elevated not only by liver damage but by other organ affection, such as the heart and muscles, which is expected to be present [ 41 – 43 ].…”