Effect of Prednisolone on the Lymhpoid Tissue of Small Intestine of Adult Wistar Rats

Abstract

Peyers patches are central to mucosal immunity as they play a major role in the gastrointestinal tract; they modulate intestinal immune and inflammatory responses or tolerance and they are subject to other factors that influences immunity. This study aims at assessing the immunosuppressive effect of prednisolone on the histology of peyers patches of adult wistar rats. Twenty eight adult albino wistar rats weighing between 190g to 300g were randomly assigned seven groups A, B, C, E, F & G of four rats each. Group A animals served as the control and were given distilled water only; Group B received 2mg/kg of prednisolone for two weeks, Group C received 4mg/kg of prednisolone for two weeks, Group D received 6mg/kg of prednisolone for two weeks, Group E received 2mg/kg of predisolone for four weeks, Group F received 4mg/kg of prednisolone for four weeks and Group G received 6mg/kg of prednisolone for four weeks. The oral administration was in two phases; short term (two weeks) and long term (four weeks) which lasted for twenty eight days. Body weight result showed general increase in body weight in all the groups. Histological examination revealed significantly increased influx of lymphocytes in peyers patches into the lumen in groups F & G compared with the control while other groups B, C, D, & E were not affected when compared with the control group. The groups given prednisolone for a longer period showed reduction in numbers of peyers patches and lymphoid follicles, suggesting that  higher doses of prednisolone tend to lower the number of peyers patches.

Keywords: Prednisolone, Lymphoid tissue, Small intestine, Peyers patches, Wistar rats