Volume 20, Issue 45, January - June, 2026

Copper sulphate and its implications on lipid profile, serum electrolytes and cerebellar histology

Christopher Chiedozie Mbadugha^1♦, Michael Ebe Nandi², Ikechukwu Ezeah³, Akpanabasi Alexis Malachy¹, Ernest Aniefiok Daniel¹

¹Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria
²Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Cross River State University, Nigeria
³Department of Surgery. University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding Author
Christopher Chiedozie Mbadugha, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Copper is essential in tiny amounts, but animal and cell studies show that excess copper sulphate is directly toxic to the body, mainly through oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death. This study explored the effect of copper sulphate on the body weight, lipid profile, serum-electrolyte and cerebellar histology of adult Wistar rats. Twenty-five (25) adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five animals each (n = 5). Group A served as the normal control group. Group B received 5 mg/kg body weight of copper sulphate while Group C received 10 mg/kg body weight of copper sulphate. Group D and Group E was administered copper sulphate at 100 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg body weight respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days. This study evaluated body weight changes, lipid profile assay, serum-electrolyte analysis and histological analysis of the cerebellar tissues. After three weeks of the experiment, significant weight loss was noted in Group 2 when compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between all the groups in the lipid profile assay. Also, results from the serum-electrolyte analysis showed no significant difference between all the groups in this experiment. However, histological alterations, in form of prominent glomeruli and vacuolations, were noticed at 10 mg/kg b.w., 100 mg/kg b.w. and 200 mg/kg b.w. of copper sulphate administration. In conclusion, high doses of copper sulphate can harm cerebellar tissue.

Keywords: Copper sulphate, lipid profile, electrolytes, Wistar rat, cerebellum

Drug Discovery, 2026, 20(45), e8dd3057

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Published: 09 March 2026