Hepatotoxicity of Combined Treatment with Cisplatin and Gentamicin in the Guinea Pig

Time dependent effect of gentamicin on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and terminal digestion in rat intestine

Gentamicin (GM) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic commonly used against life threatening gram negative bacterial infections, however, nephrotoxicity remains the major concern for its long term use. Although its effects on kidney are well characterized but there have been no studies regarding its effects on intestine. We hypothesize that GM causes adaptive coordinated effect on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and terminal digestion/ absorption in rat intestine. Rats were administerd a nephrotoxic dose of GM (80 mg /kg body weight) daily for 15 days and a time dependent effect was observed on various enzyme activities. Activities of lactate (LDH), malate (MDH) and isocitrate (ICDH) dehydrogenases, significantly increased and peaked at different time intervals of GM treatment. Whereas LDH activity remained higher, MDH and ICDH activity slowly declined from their peak values. Activities of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increased but malic enzyme decreased in a time dependent manner. Activity of alkaline phosphatase and sucrase significantly increased but γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity decreased. GM administration increased lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase but decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The results indicate that GM treatment selectively upregulated certain enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism and terminal digestion/absorption and perturbed antioxidant defenses. Human & Experimental Taxicology, ( 2007) 26, 587—593.

Effects of Rhus tripartitum fruit extract on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Rhus tripartitum D.C., Anacardiaceae, has traditionally been used in Tunisia against many illnesses. The present study investigates, for the first time, the protective effects of the methanol extract of Rhus tripartitum fruit (MERT) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicty in Wistar rats. ALT, AST, LDH, GGT, creatinin, urea, and uric acid levels were studied. The changes in antioxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl contents were also determined. The increased levels of MDA (30.97 and 11.50 nmol MDA/mg protein in liver and kidney, respectively) and protein carbonyls (13.4 and 17.95 nmol/mg protein in liver and kidney, respectively) were attenuated by MERT pretreatment (19.35 and 6.1 nmol MDA/mg protein and 9.15 and 12 nmol/mg protein in liver and kidney, respectively). The MERT pretreatment significantly reduced the increased biochemical parameters of liver and kidney caused by CCl4 and cisplatin treatment. The histopathologic observation showed that MERT pretreatment restores the altered tissues. The observed results could be due to the high phenolic content and to MERT's important antioxidant potential. This study supports the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of R. tripartitum.

Nephroprotective activity of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit extract against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and renal dysfunction in experimental rodents

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate nephroprotective potential of Solanum xanthocarpum (S. xanthocarpum) fruit extract(SXE) against gentamicin (GM) induced nephrotoxicity and renal dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Control rats that received normal saline (i.p.) and 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (p.o.) per day for 8 d. Nephrotoxicity was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of GM (100 mg/kg/d for 8 d) and were treated with SXE (200 and 400 mg/kg/d (p.o.) for 8 d). Plasma and urine urea and creatinine, kidney weight, urine output, blood urea nitrogen, renal enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation was evaluated along with histopathological investigation in various experimental groups of rats.

RESULTS

It was observed that the GM treatment induced significant elevation (P<0.001) in plasma and urine urea, creatinine, kidney weight, blood urea nitrogen, renal lipid peroxidation along with significant decrement (P<0.001) in urine output, renal enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. SXE 200 and 400 mg/kg treatment to GM treated rats recorded significant decrement (up to P<0.001) in plasma and urine urea and creatinine, renal lipid peroxidation along with significant increment (up to P<0.001) in renal enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Histological observations of kidney tissues too correlated with the biochemical observations.

CONCLUSIONS

These finding powerfully supports that S. xanthocarpum fruit extract acts in the kidney as a potent scavenger of free radicals to prevent the toxic effects of GM both in the biochemical and histopathological parameters and thus validates its ethnomedicinal use.

A histopathological study of nephrotoxicity, hepatoxicity or testicular toxicity: Which one is the first observation as side effect of Cisplatin-induced toxicity in animal model?

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin (CP) is widely used in clinic to treat the solid tumors. However, CP is associated with some major side effects including nephrotoxicity, hepatoxicity, and testicular toxicity.

OBJECTIVES

To found, which of the toxicities is the first side effect of CP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

we conducted a pilot research on 12 adult male Wistar rats.

RESULTS

One week after CP administration, the induced toxicity was observed clearly in kidney tissue. The only abnormality that observed in testis tissue was very small degree of hyaline casts. However, no damage and other abnormality were detected in the liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

According to these findings, in clinic, first special attention must be made on kidneys during chemotherapy with CP. However, the duration of experiment is suggested to be extended to obtain hepatoxicity or testicular toxicity model in experimental animal in laboratories. Moreover, different dose of CP should be used to study the first side effect in animal model.

Amelioration of CCl(4)-induced nephrotoxicity by Oxalis corniculata in rat

CCl(4) induces oxidative stress in various tissues by altering antioxidant enzymes defense system. In this study we investigated the chemical composition and protective role of Oxalis corniculata methanol extract (OCME) on CCl(4)-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. Presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phlobatannins and steroids was determined in OCME while tannins were absent. Total phenolic contents estimated were 7.76 ± 0.36 (mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract) while total flavonoid contents recorded were 6.92 ± 0.52 (mg rutin equivalents/g extract). Intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4) (1 ml/kg b.w., 20% in olive oil) once a day for seven days caused nephrotoxicity as evident by elevated levels of urinary specific gravity, RBCs, WBCs, creatinine, protein, urobilinogen and nitrite. Serum level of creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen were significantly increased while protein and creatinine clearance was decreased by CCl(4) treatment in kidney samples. Activity of antioxidant enzymes; catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and glutathione concentration was decreased whereas lipid peroxidation and protein contents were increased along with histopathological injuries. Treatment with OCME caused significant recovery in changed parameters. It could be concluded that OCME has a protective role against CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress in rat, due to antioxidant effects of phenolics.

Effect of trichloroethylene (TCE) toxicity on the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, brush border membrane and oxidative stress in kidney and other rat tissues

Trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent, is a major environmental contaminant. Histopathological examinations revealed that TCE caused liver and kidney toxicity and carcinogenicity. However, biochemical mechanism and tissue response to toxic insult are not completely elucidated. We hypothesized that TCE induces oxidative stress to various rat tissues and alters their metabolic functions. Male Wistar rats were given TCE (1000 mg/kg/day) in corn oil orally for 25 d. Blood and tissues were collected and analyzed for various biochemical and enzymatic parameters. TCE administration increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase but decreased serum glucose, inorganic phosphate and phospholipids indicating kidney and liver toxicity. Activity of hexokinase, lactate dehydrogenase increased in the intestine and liver whereas decreased in renal tissues. Malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase decreased in all tissues whereas increased in medulla. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase increased but NADP-malic enzyme decreased in all tissues except in medulla. The activity of BBM enzymes decreased but renal Na/Pi transport increased. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities variably declined whereas lipid peroxidation significantly enhanced in all tissues. The present results indicate that TCE caused severe damage to kidney, intestine, liver and brain; altered carbohydrate metabolism and suppressed antioxidant defense system.