Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the neurotoxicity of ciprofloxacin (Cip) or gatifloxacin (Gati) single oral dose in male albino rats weighing (100 ± 20 g) grouped as control-administered water, ciprofloxacin (80 mg/kg) and gatifloxacin (32 mg/kg) each of 12 rats. The frontal cortex of both groups revealed decrease in glutamate, GABA, taurine, histidine and serotonin levels and elevation of aspartate, glycin and serine and AChE activities. While noradrenaline and dopamine levels reduced significantly in Gati group, noradrenaline increased significantly in Cip group. Hippocampus of either Cip or Gati group's results revealed elevation of all detected amino acids and monoamines except the reduction of glutamate, aspartate and dopamine in Cip group. In the meantime, AChE activities significantly reduced in both treatments. Serum results showed elevation of glucose in both treated groups. The histological examination of Gati brain tissue showed neuronal degeneration in the cerebral cortex and congestion in the blood vessels and capillaries in hippocampus tissue without histopathological alteration observed in Cip group tissue. Overall, the data showed the effect of the quinolones single dose towards hyperglycemia and shift in balance of neurotransmitters and acetylcholinesterase as well as the histopathological alterations in the tested brain areas.