Ayesha Ahmed - Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz M Mansour Alkhawajah - Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Dalal M Al-Tamimi - Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad A Shwarby - Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Anvarhusein A Isab - Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Badar - Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Objective(s): Newer organo-metallic, specifically gold (III) complexes with multiple ligands are currently being formulated with primary focus of having increased anti-cancerous properties and decreased cytotoxicity. In this study, histological toxicity profile of a newly formulated anti-cancerous gold (III) compound [trans-(±)-۱,۲-(DACH)۲Au]Cl۳ Bis(trans-۱,۲-Diaminocyclohexane) was investigated by evaluation of kidney and liver tissues of treated rats.Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. In acute toxicity component of the study, (n = ۱۶) male rats weighing between ۲۰۰–۲۵۰ g were administered single, variable concentration of the gold (III) compound, [trans-(±)-۱,۲-(DACH)۲Au]Cl۳ Bis(trans-۱,۲-Diaminocyclohexane) to determine LD۵۰ (dose that is lethal to ۵۰% of rats). An IP injection of ۲.۳ mg/kg (equivalent to ۱/۱۰ of LD۵۰) was injected for ۱۴ consecutive days to (n=۱۰) male rats in the sub-acute component of the study. Autopsy preservation of liver and kidney tissue in buffered formalin, sample processing, histopathological evaluation, and comparison with unremarkable controls (n=۵) was conducted sequentially. Results: A dose of ۲.۳ mg/kg did not produce any tubular necrosis in kidney specimens. Mild interstitial inflammation with prominence of plasma cells was the main histological alteration. Plasmacytic pyelitis was also seen. Varying extents of cytoplasmic vacuolization and mild focal lobular and portal inflammation were predominant hepatic microscopic findings. Conclusion: [trans-(±)-۱,۲-(DACH)۲Au]Cl۳ Bis(trans-۱,۲-Diaminocyclohexane) produced no histological damage in renal and hepatic tissues of rats. This very limited sample animal-based study points to the relative safety of this new gold compound. However, there is a need to compare this compound with established drugs in a comparative non-animal based study.

Anticancerous, Kidney, Liver, Novel gold III compound, Toxicity