Changes in Hematological Parameters of Sprague Dawley Rats with Use of Cyclosporine and Nigella Sativa

Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the signs of Cyclosporine toxicity and to analyze the ameliorative effects of Nigella Sativa (NS or Kalonji) on body weight and haematological parameters.Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Baqai Medical University of Karachi during the month of February 2017. Thirty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were selected from the Animal House of the university. After acclimatization, the animals were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 rats in each Group. Group A was the control group and received no intervention. Group B received treatment of oral Cyclosporine (15 mg/kg/day) in a single daily dose and Group C was given Cyclosporine (15 mg/kg/day) with Nigella Sativa seeds (450 mg/kg) as a protective agent. The bodyweight of rats in each group was measured at the start of the study period. The treatment was given for the duration of 21 days, after which the body weight was measured again. The rats were anaesthetized and blood was collected through cardiac puncture. Blood analysis for haemoglobin percentage, total leucocyte count and differential leucocyte count was done using haematology analyzer. Manual differential leucocyte was also done after staining the blood smear with Leishman's stain.Results: Final body weight of rats in Cyclosporine treated Group B was decreased significantly p<0.001 in comparison to control Group A and increased significantly p=0.001 in Nigella Sativa and Cyclosporine protected Group C. Blood parameters showed decreased mean haemoglobin p=0.03, decreased mean total leucocyte count p=0.003, increased mean neutrophil count p=0.27 and decreased mean lymphocyte count p=0.27 in Cyclosporine treated Group B while the mean values of these haematological parameters improved in Nigella Sativa protected Group C.Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Cyclosporine caused a decrease in animal weight and toxic changes in haematological parameters while Nigella Sativa was helpful in ameliorating them