Introduction: Tamiflu (T) is a brand-name antiviral drug. Many researchers have proven its efficacy in influenza treatment and prophylaxis. Meanwhile, other studies released reports on T, claiming that T is not efficacious for influenza treatment, but it just relieves some of the influenza symptoms; and induces some side-effects such as renal/psychiatric events, and serious heart rhythm problems. To stand on the truth between the aforementioned proofs and claims, this study was designed by applying the prescribed doses of T, which was announced by its manufacturer “Roche".
Study Design: Four animal groups (5 rats/each), in which the recommended doses were converted to rats. The control group (1st group), T-treated groups (6.75 mg/kg b.w.), where rats were given T twice in 5 days (2nd group), once in 10 days (3rd group), and once in 45 days (4th group). At the end, rats were rapidly dissected; the liver and kidney specimens were prepared for the TEM technique.
Results: The ultrathin sections of the affected hepatocytes of T-treated rats showed significant focal cytoplasmic degeneration/necrosis, which included: mega-mitochondria, marked dilatation of RER cisternae, cytoplasmic vacuolation, irregular nuclei with condensed heterochromatin, in addition to glycogen accumulation. The kidneys of the T-treated animals revealed serious changes: necrotic/ruptured epithelial cells of the renal corpuscles and disrupted foot processes. Swollen mitochondria were also seen in the epithelia of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules (PCTs and DCTs). The damaged BM and its lumen were occluded with degenerated and vacuolated ghost cells. The severity of the ultrastructural alterations was ascendingly graded as G III, II, then IV.
Conclusion: Finally, T induced hepatic and renal ultrastructure alterations in male rats. Such alterations match those enumerated by previous work that discover drug-induced liver/kidney injuries. So, it is recommended that T should be listed with drug-induced liver/kidney injury, as both alterations were observed on the obtained ultrastructural results.