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RESULTS
I.In Vivo Studies
I.a.General Observations :
The general appearance of the animals in the control (CONT), adriamycin (ADR),
adriamycin and probucol (ADR+PROB), and probucol (PROB) groups was observed
regularly during the course of the study. Soon after the administration of adriamycin, the
ADR group animals developed scruffy fur with a yellow coloration and showed signs of
peripheral cyanosis. ADR group rats appeared sick and lethargic compared to CONT,
PROB and ADR+PROB animals. On the other hand, CONT, PROB and ADR+PROB
group animals did not show any changes in their general appearance. The administration
of adriamycin also resulted in a decreased uptake of food and water in animals belonging
to ADR group. The most prominent feature in ADR group animals was the development
of dyspnea which was accompanied by the presence of grossly enlarged abdomen filled
with transudate (ascites). This pathological condition became evident during the f,rrst
week after the treatment with adriamycin and progressed during the post-treatment
period. At the end of 3 weeks of post-treatment, ascites in ADR group was 63.6+10.1 ml
(Table 2). The administration of probucol in the ADR+PROB group animals was found
to prevent the development of ascites (Table 2). Animals belonging to CONT and PROB
groups did not exhibit any signs of ascites (Table 2). The ADR group animals iost some
weight soon after the beginning of adriamycin therapy (Fig. 6). This initial decrease in
weight of adriamycin treated animals improved during the 3rd week post-treatment.
However, during adriamycin post-treatment period (weeks 1-3), ADR treated animals
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