Amitriptyline Induced Alterations in Liver and Kidney Functions and Structures in Male Rats

Aims: Depression is a mental health issue that starts most often in early adulthood and it is a common and recurrent disorder causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is known to inhibit the presynaptic reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and inhibitor of mitochondrial functions and induces apoptosis in several tissues. This study aims to identify the changes in liver and kidney structure and functions after treatment of male rats with Amitriptyline drugs.

Materials and Methods: A total of 20 male albino rats were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups (G1, control group that included animals that did not receive any treatment during the experimental period. G2, Amitriptyline (Tryptizol; El Kahira Pharm And Chem Ind Co) group in which rats were injected intraperitoneally with Amitriptyline (100 mg/kg body weight/daily) for four weeks).

Results: The current results revealed that; Amitriptyline treatments significantly (P <0.05) increased the levels of serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, sodium ions, chloride ions and liver and kidney damages as compared to control. In contrast; a significant (P <0.05) decrease in albumin, and total protein, potassium ions and calcium ions in Amitriptyline group was reported when compared with control group.

Conclusion: Amitriptyline has many side effects on rat liver and kidney, it induced liver and kidney toxicity and tissue injury were it metabolized to nortriptyline which inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin almost equally. Amitriptyline inhibits the membrane pump mechanism responsible for uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic and serotonergic neurons.