Abstract
The objective of the present work is to study the possible role of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) side effects due to the administration of ciprofloxacin (80 mg/kg body weight) and gatifloxacin (32 mg/kg body weight) in male albino rats for 3, 7 and 14 days. The frontal cortex of ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin treated groups revealed decrease of glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine and serotonin levels and elevation of aspartate, asparagine, glycine, serine and norepinepherine levels and acetylecholinestrase (AChE) activities in a time related effect. In the hippocampus area, the results varied in each antibiotic where in ciprofloxacin treated groups, there is an elevation of asparagine, GABA, glycine, serine, taurine, norepinepherine and dopamine levels and a reduction of glutamate, aspartate and serotonin levels and AChE activities in a time related effect. In gatifloxacin treated groups, there is an elevation of glutamate, aspartate, asparagine, GABA, glycine, taurine and norepinepherine and reduction in the levels of dopamine and serotonin and the AChE activities. The histopathological examinations showed sever congestion with perivascular oedema in the blood vessels and capillaries of cerebral cortex as well as of the hippocampus. Overall, the data suggest that there is a shift in the balance between neurotransmitters towards increased production of excitatory potency in groups subjected to ciprofloxacin or gatifloxacin administration.