Modulation Effects of Eugenol on Nephrotoxicity Triggered by Silver Nanoparticles in Adult Rats

The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is expanding. This study evaluates the modulator effect of eugenol (Eug) on AgNP-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Sixty male rats were separated into six groups: control, Eug, AgNPs low-dose, AgNPs high-dose, Eug + AgNPs low-dose, and Eug + AgNPs high-dose. After 30 days, kidney function, antioxidative and proinflammatory status, histopathological, histomorphometrical, and immunohistochemical assessments were performed. AgNPs markedly induced oxidative stress in renal tissues, characterized by increased levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, kidney injury molecule-1, the total oxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6, as well as decreased levels of the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, the normal renal architecture was destroyed, and the thickness of the renal capsules, cortex, and medulla, alongside the diameter and quantity of the normal Malpighian corpuscles and the proximal and distal convoluted tubules were decreased. Immunoreactivity for P53, caspase-3, and TNF-α reactive proteins were significantly increased; however, Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was decreased. Eug reversed most biochemical, histological, histomorphometrical, and immunohistochemical changes in AgNP-treated animals. This study demonstrated that nephrotoxicity in AgNP-treated rats was mitigated by an Eug supplementation. Eug's antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory capabilities were the key in modulating AgNPs nephrotoxicity.

The Possible Neuroprotective Effect of Silymarin against Aluminum Chloride-Prompted Alzheimer's-Like Disease in Rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a worldwide rapidly growing neurodegenerative disease. Here, we elucidated the neuroprotective effects of silymarin (SM) on the hippocampal tissues of aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer-like disease in rats using biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural approaches. Forty rats were divided into control, SM, AlCl3, and AlCl3 + SM groups. Biochemically, AlCl3 administration resulted in marked elevation in levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) and decrease in levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Moreover, AlCl3 significantly increased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. Furthermore, myriad histological and ultrastructural alterations were recorded in the hippocampal tissues of AlCl3-treated rats represented as marked degenerative changes of pyramidal neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Additionally, some myelinated nerve fibers exhibited irregular arrangement of their myelin coats, while the others revealed focal degranulation of their myelin sheaths. Severe defects in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) were also recorded. However, co-administration of SM with AlCl3 reversed most of the biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural changes triggered by AlCl3 in rats. The results of the current study indicate that SM can potentially mend most of the previously evoked neuronal damage in the hippocampal tissues of AlCl3-kindled rats.

The potential protective role of taurine against 5-fluorouracil-induced nephrotoxicity in adult male rats

Nephrotoxicity is common with the use of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The current study aimed to investigate the probable protective effect of taurine (TAU) against 5-FU-induced nephrotoxicity in rats using biochemical, histological and ultrastructural approaches. Twenty-four rats were equally divided into control, TAU, 5-FU and 5-FU+TAU groups. 5-FU significantly elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and uric acid; while it reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Also, 5-FU induced significant elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels accompanied with marked decline in γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels in kidney tissues. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by histopathological changes marked by destruction of the normal renal structure, in addition to ultrastructural alterations represented by thickened and irregular glomerular basement membranes, congested glomerular capillaries, damaged lining fenestrated endothelium, mesangial cells hyperplasia with expanded mesangial matrix, and distorted podocyte's processes. Also, the proximal (PCT) and distal (DCT) convoluted tubules showed thickened basement membranes, destructed apical microvilli and loss of basal infoldings of their epithelial cells. Administration of TAU to 5-FU-treated rats reversed most of the biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural alterations. These results indicate that TAU has a protective effect against 5-FU-induced nephrotoxicity.

The ameliorative effect of thymol against hydrocortisone-induced hepatic oxidative stress injury in adult male rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hydrocortisone induces oxidative stress in hepatocytes and to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of thymol against such hepatic injury. Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into control, thymol, hydrocortisone, and hydrocortisone+thymol groups. The 4 groups were treated daily for 15 days. Hydrocortisone significantly induced oxidative stress in the liver tissues, marked by increased serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total oxidative capacity (TOC), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) accompanied by marked decline of serum levels of total protein, albumin, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Also, marked elevation in the levels of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and TNF-α, beside significant decrease in the level of glutathione (GSH) in hepatic tissues were recorded. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by histopathological changes marked by destruction of the normal hepatic architecture, in addition to ultrastructural alterations represented by degenerative features covering almost all the cytoplasmic organelles of the hepatocytes. Supplementation of hydrocortisone-treated rats with thymol reversed most of the biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural alterations. The results of our study confirm that thymol has strong ameliorative effect against hydrocortisone-induced oxidative stress injury in hepatic tissues.