Male Sprague-Dawley rats (average weight 200 g) were purchased from a commercial source and used in the present study. The animals were kept at the animal house of the Alexandria faculty of medicine, Egypt (21 ± 1 ºC and 65% relative humidity (RH)) with a 10 h light/14 h dark cycle. Animals were adapted to their environment for 2 weeks before the experiment. Standard chow and water ad libitum were allowed through the duration of the study. Ethical committee approval was obtained and animals were treated according to the ethical guidelines of Alexandria University, Egypt. Further, the internationally accepted principles for laboratory use and care of the European Community (EEC Directive of 1986; 86/609/EEC) were followed to ensure minimal animal
