Influence of granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment on physiological indices in Wistar rats

Background: Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used in clinical practice to mobilize neutrophils alone or in combination with chemotherapy. However, its influence in physiological indices has not been addressed well in certain animal models such as Wistar rats. Aims: To evaluate the single and combinatorial effects of G-CSF and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on physiological indices in Wistar rat. Materials and Methods : Naïve female Wistar rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of pharmaceutical benefits scheme, (5 μL/day/rat) G-CSF for 5 consecutive days and single intraperitoneal injection of CTX (4 mg/rat). Body weights were obtained daily. Rats were sacrificed 1-day after the last injection to obtain different organ weight and to analyze the physiological indices in plasma and the liver. Results: G-CSF alone induced increases in body weight, splenomegaly, white blood cells, platelets, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. It, however, decreased neutrophils and monocytes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, red blood cells and hemoglobin level. CTX alone induced decreases in body weight, white blood cells, neutrophils, red blood cells and hemoglobin level. It, however, increased spleen weight, lymphocytes, monocytes, ALT activity and AST. G-CSF + CTX induced increases in body weight, splenomegaly, lymphocytes and ALT. It, however, decreased white blood cells, platelets number, neutrophils, monocytes, red blood cells and hemoglobin level. Conclusion : Among different physiological indices, treatment with single or combinatorial G-CSF increases the total number of white blood cells in Wistar rats which need to be considered while using this model animal disease.