Molecular studies on the effect of Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine utilized for the treatment of COVID-19 on Albino Rat

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt

2 Biochemistry Division, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt

10.21608/ejmm.2025.379193.1591

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 infection can cause severe disease for which currently no specific therapy is available. Objective: The present study was to evaluate the molecular effects of Ivermectin (IVM) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a drug for COVID-19 on different organs of albino rats. Methodology: Forty eight albino rats were divided into three groups as the following: distilled water rats; 50 mg/kg oral injection of Hydroxychloroquine and 0.4 mg/kg oral injection of Ivermectin. Results: There was a significant reduction in kidney and liver intact DNA content with both doses of Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin. Additionally, the flow cytometry analysis results indicated a considerable rise in the number of apoptotic cells with the treatment of IVM and HCQ. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR technique the results demonstrated a significant decrease in P53 and Bcl2 gene expression in rats treated with hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. Conclusion: The findings of this investigation indicate both hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin significantly decrease the kidney DNA. IVM and HCQ therapy led to G1/S phase cell cycle arrest, which partially explains the decreased proliferation. Furthermore, the study's flow cytometry results showed that both IVM and HCQ significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics