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Melatonin administration prevents the nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin
Author(s) -
Özbek E.,
Turkoz Y.,
Sahna E.,
Ozugurlu F.,
Mizrak B.,
Ozbek M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2000.00531.x
Subject(s) - renal cortex , endocrinology , gentamicin , medicine , nephrotoxicity , superoxide dismutase , melatonin , creatinine , catalase , chemistry , lipid peroxidation , blood urea nitrogen , kidney , biochemistry , oxidative stress , antibiotics
Objective To investigate the effect of melatonin on the antioxidant enzyme activity and renal tubular necrosis induced by gentamicin. Materials and methods Twenty‐four adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. In group 1, the rats were injected with vehicle (controls), in group 2 they were injected with gentamicin for 5 days and in group 3 injected with gentamicin plus melatonin for 5 days. At 24 h after the last injection, rats were killed and the renal cortex separated from the medulla. Most of the cortex was homogenized but a small sample was fixed in formaldehyde solution for histological examination by light microscopy. Blood samples were also taken to assess the serum levels of urea, creatinine, Na + , K + and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GT); before death, urine samples were analysed for protein content. Crude extracts of the cortex were used to determine lipoperoxides, reduced glutathione (GSH‐Px), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results were compared using the Mann–Whitney U ‐test. Results Compared with the controls rats, gentamicin caused hyperproteinuria, an increase in the level of γ‐GT in serum, a marked increase in lipoperoxides and a significant decrease of GSH‐Px, catalase and SOD activity in the kidney. In the rats in group 3 there was a marked restoration in lipid peroxidation, GSH‐Px, catalase, SOD activity and proteinuria, and in γ‐GT in serum. In rats in group 2 there was widespread tubular necrosis (grade 2–4) but in rats in group 3 there was a marked reduction in the extent of tubular damage. There was no significant difference in serum levels of Na + , K + , blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Conclusion These results indicate that melatonin prevents the tubular necrosis induced by gentamicin in rats, presumably because it is a potent antioxidant and restores antioxidant enzyme activity in the rat kidney.