Study on the Effect of Co-administration of Artemether and Nevirapine on Serum Electrolytes in Wistar Rats

SB Anafi1, HO Kwanashie1, JA Anuka1, HM Muktar2, AS Agbaji3. 1Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru-Zaria, Nigeria, 2Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria, 3National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Basawa-Zaria, Nigeria

Artemether (ART) and nevirapine (NVP) are drugs used in the treatment and management of malaria and HIV respectively. There is a possibility for an HIV patient to be on antiretroviral drugs and anti-malarial drugs concurrently, but the safety of such combination therapy is of great concern especially when there is a chance of drug-drug interaction. The objective of this study was to investigate the status of serum electrolyte following co-administration of ART and NVP in Wistar rats.

Experiments were carried out according to international ethical standards regarding the handling and use of laboratory animals (1). Rats were divided into 6 groups of 6 per group. Groups 4, 5 and 6 received 30 mg/kg NVP daily for 21 days. From days 15 to 21, groups 2 and 5 received 5 mg/kg ART (ART5) while groups 3 and 6 received 10 mg/kg ART (ART10). All other animals received the vehicle (3% v/v Tween 80 (T80)), up to day 21. All drugs were administered via the intraperitoneal route. On day 22, animals were sacrificed and sera obtained. The levels of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- and HCO3 - were determined using an enzyme selectra XL machine. Data were analysed using ANOVA, followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test and expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. The level of significance was set at P<0.05.

There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and HCO3 -) in the experimental groups compared with the control group (Fig. 1); although, the level of Cl- decreased significantly (P<0.05) in NVP + T80 and NVP + ART10 administered groups when compared with the control (96.2±0.5 versus 102.8±0.3) and (96.0±1.5 versus 102.8±0.3) respectively (Fig. 2).

Findings from this study showed no alteration in serum electrolyte levels in Wistar rats co-administered with ART and NVP; although a slight difference in Cl- in NVP + T80 and NVP + ART10 administered groups was observed but this is unlikely to be of concern in the clinical setting.

(1) UND/World Bank/WHO (2001). Good Laboratory Practice Training Manual for the Trainee, Pp. 3-19.