Evaluation of the Histological Effects of Prednisolone Administration on the Pancreas of Male Wistar Rats
Okekpa Uchenna Oyibe
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Okoronkwo Christiana Akudo
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Okike Paul Ifeanyichukwu
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Nyejirime Young Wike *
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Prednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid widely used to manage inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. However, its effects on pancreatic tissue morphology require further investigation.
Aim: This study evaluated the histological effects of different doses of prednisolone on the pancreas of male Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty adult male Wistar rats weighing 185–195 g were randomly assigned to four groups of five animals each. Group 1 served as the control, while Groups 2, 3 and 4 received prednisolone orally at doses of 30, 20 and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once daily for 21 days. At the end of treatment, pancreatic tissues were collected, processed and examined using haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained sections.
Results: The control group exhibited well-defined islets of Langerhans and preserved acinar architecture. The 30 mg/kg group showed more prominent islet profiles, whereas the 20 mg/kg group exhibited less pronounced islet prominence. Pancreatic architecture appeared relatively preserved in the 10 mg/kg group. These observations indicated descriptive differences in pancreatic morphology among the experimental groups. However, quantitative morphometric measurements and corresponding statistical results were not reported.
Conclusion: Prednisolone administration was associated with differences in pancreatic histological appearance under the experimental conditions. Nevertheless, the findings do not establish statistically significant dose-dependent changes, confirmed endocrine-cell hyperplasia or functional pancreatic impairment. Further quantitative and functional investigations are required to determine their biological significance.
Keywords: Prednisolone, pancreatic histology, islets of langerhans, pancreatic islets, acinar architecture, glucocorticoid exposure, haematoxylin and eosin, dose-associated morphology, light microscopy