The Cytogenetic Effects of Levofloxacin in Male Rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the cytogenetic effects of levofloxacin in male rats. It was carried out on fifty four of the albino male rats, they were divided equally into three main groups and orally dosed levofloxacin and assigned as, the first group was dosed with the therapeutic dose 7.5mg/kg/bw, the second group was dosed with the double therapeutic dose 15mg/kg/bw, the third group was dosed with distilled water and became a control group. The three groups were divided into three subgroups equally according to dosing period of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 1 week after discontinuation of dosing. Collection of blood and scarification of group animals were done at the end of each period. The results showed, that there were no significant P>0.05 differences in both the micronuclei assay and in chromosomal aberration among the experimental groups, while the results of both nuclear division index and mitotic index showed, a significant P<0.05 decrease in their values in both dosed drug groups after the fourth week of the dosage compared to other treated periods and control group. The results of the comet assay showed, varying of results with significant P<0.05 decreases in both treated groups compared to the control group.We concluded that levofloxacin is a cytotoxic but not genotoxic agent.