Effect of Dexamethasone in the Treatment of the Disturbed Kidney Functions Caused by Paraquat Administration of to Adult Male Rats

Abstract

is highly toxic herbicide with no specific antidote. this study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potency of dexamethasone (Dx) on the kidney function tests in experimental paraquat intoxication in male rats. Three groups of rats were subjected to this trial, control, PQ group (50 mg/ kg orally) and PQ with Dx (50 mg/ kg orally, 4 mg/ kg ip. respectively) throughout 15 days. Results revealed that treatment with PQ caused an elevation in kidney function indices as well as sodium ion and decrease in each of potassium, calcium ions and inorganic phosphate compared to control whereas treatment with Dx decreased (p 0.05) the concentration of both creatinine and inorganic phosphate and elevated the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and calcium in comparison with values of PQ-treated rats, Dx did not affect the concentrations of uric acid, sodium and potassium. In conclusion, the treatment of PQ-induced toxicity with Dx in rats has limited value in correction of most kidney function tests.