Reduction of carbon tetrachloride‐induced nephropathy by melatonin administration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of melatonin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced renal damage in rats. A total of 24 animals were divided into three equal groups: the control rats received pure olive oil subcutaneously, rats in the second group were injected with CCl4 (0.5 ml kg-1, s.c. in olive oil) and rats in the third group were injected with CCl4 (0.5 ml kg-1) plus melatonin (25 mg kg-1, s.c. in 10% ethanol) every other day for 1 month. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The kidneys were removed and weighed. Urea and creatinine levels were determined in blood samples. Histopathological examination of the kidney was performed using light microscopic methods. Administration of CCl4 significantly increased relative kidney weight (g per 100 g body weight) and decreased serum urea levels compared to controls (p<0.01). Melatonin treatment significantly (p<0.01) reduced relative kidney weight, and it produced a statistically equal (p=0.268) relative weight with the kidneys of control rats. CCl4 administration alone also caused histopathologically prominent damage in the kidney compared to the control group. Glomerular and tubular degeneration, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis, vascular congestion around the tubules, and interstitial haemorrhage in perivascular areas were observed in the renal cortex and cortico-medullary border. However, the affect of CCl4 on the medulla was limited. Melatonin provided protection against CCl4-induced renal toxicity as was evident by histopathological evaluation. In view of the present findings, it is suggested that melatonin protects kidneys against CCl4 toxicity.

Melatonin attenuates methotrexate‐induced oxidative stress and renal damage in rats

“…In addition, in animals treated with LPS, melatonin abolished the increment in lipid peroxidation and managed to offset the hepatic degenerative changes. In experiments in vivo, the administration of melatonin prevented carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced lipid peroxidation in the kidney and liver 35 . There are many characteristics which melatonin possesses which aids its ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation: (a) it is 38 which propagate peroxidation, as well as the highly reactive singlet oxygen 39 .…”

Melatonin prevents formaldehyde‐induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex of rats: an immunohistochemical and biochemical study

“…a hydroxyl radical and a peroxyl radical scavenger. 29,30 It has also been shown that when animals and tissues are subjected to lipid peroxidation, melatonin causes a substantial protection against the oxidative destruction of lipids. 31 However, to our knowledge, there is no experimental study concerning the protective effects of melatonin against neuronal damage in prefrontal cortex induced by HCHO.…”

Protective Effects of Antioxidants on the Experimental Liver and Kidney Toxicity in Mice

“…In certain studies (6,16), an antioxidant effect was obtained when 10 mg/kg MLT was administered; as this dosage was the dose we used, however in some studies (18), it was reported that, antioxidant effect was obtained only when a dose of 25 mg/kg was administered. In the present study, both in the liver and kidney tissues, Vitamin C group MDA values were found quite close to the MDA values of the control group when compared with other groups.…”

“…However the pathology related with renal function failure that is stimulated by CCl 4 remains controversial. As kidneys have an affinity against CCl 4 , and as they contain predominantly, cystochrome p450 in the cortex, it is very possible that CCl 4 contributes a lot to nephrotoxicity (18). Even though Rincon et al (19) demonstrated that the effects of CCl4 on the structure and function of kidneys are dependant to the functional state of the liver.…”

“…CCl 4 systemically applied on rats were reported to be distributed in a higher concentration in the liver when compared to the kidneys (21). Multiple number of studies showed tissue damage in many organs, mainly in the liver induced by CCL 4 (18).…”