Histological Study Of The Role Of Vitamen E And Zinc On Tendenopathy Induced By Ciprofloxacin In Albino Rat

Vitamin E and Zinc are essential dietary elements; they possess antioxidant effect that can control the free radicals which cause damage of the tissue. This study was done to evaluate the possible effects of vitamin E and zinc as natural antioxidant on ciprofloxacin-induced Achilles tendon damage in albino rats. Twenty adult male albino rats were used in this study and were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group I: control, group II: received ciprofloxacin (800 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. Group III: received the same dose of ciprofloxacin and vitamin E (100 mg/kg/days) for 10 days. Group IV: received the same dose of ciprofloxacin and zinc (50 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. Ciprofloxacin causes fragmentation of the tendoachilles with necrotic cells. Tendoachilles damaged by ciprofloxacin revealed multi vacuolated tenocytes detached from the matrix. The nucleus of tenocyte was condensed with irregularities of the nuclear membrane. Concomitant administration of vitamin E with ciprofloxacin was reducing lesions in Achilles tendon; Tenocytes had intimate contact with the matrix. The vacuoles were present in the cytoplasm were less than those treated with ciprofloxacin only. Zinc administration with ciprofloxacin reveals fewer lesions; tendons appear intact but there is a limited areas with necrotic cells & limited area with degenerated fibers. In conclusion, co-administration of vitamin E or zinc during ciprofloxacin therapy has a significant tendo-protective effect in a rat model of ciprofloxacin-induced tendon damage. Also alleviation of lesions by zinc is better than that of vitamin E. Thus zinc could be considered as a good tendo-protective agent against ciprofloxacin induced tendinopathy.