The Impact of High Doses of Hyoscine on Liver and Kidney Functions in Rats: A Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Study

Background: Hyoscine remains clinically valuable, cumulative exposure has been increasingly associated with subtle yet progressive hepatic and renal toxicity, a concern now substantiated by emerging toxicological evidence, due to its metabolic biotransformation in these organs.Aim of the Work: This experimental study investigated the biochemical, histopathological, and molecular effects of escalating doses of Hyoscine hydrobromide on the liver and kidney functions of male Wistar rats.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: control, low-dose (0.5mg/kg), moderate-dose (1mg/kg), and high-dose (2mg/kg), administered orally for 28 consecutive days. Biochemical assessment demonstrated that serum transaminases (ALT, AST) and renal indices (urea, creatinine) exhibited a proportionate escalation with increasing Hyoscine doses, a pattern indicative of progressive hepatic and renal functional impairment.Results: Histopathological examination of H&E-stained sections demonstrated progressive hepatocyte ballooning, sinusoidal dilation, and coagulative necrosis, alongside glomerular atrophy and tubular epithelial degeneration in the kidney. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a corresponding increase in Caspase-3 expression, shifting from negative staining in control tissues to strong cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in high-dose groups. Correlation analysis showed strong positive associations between biochemical markers (ALT, AST, urea, creatinine) and Caspase-3 expression (r>0.8, p