RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It was postulated that adriamycin (ADR) induce renal tubulointerstitial injury. Clinicians are faced with a challenge in producing response in renal patients and slowing or halting the evolution towards kidney failure. The present study aimed at investigating the relation between the possible therapeutic effect of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs), isolated from cord blood on tubular renal damage and their distribution by using ADR induced nephrotoxicity as a model in albino rat. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty three male albino rats were divided into control group, ADR group where rats were given single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 5 mg/kg adriamycin. The rats were sacrificed 10, 20 and 30 days following confirmation of tubular injury. In stem cell therapy group, rats were injected with HMSCs following confirmation of renal injury and sacrificed 10, 20 and 30 days after HMSCs therapy. Kidney sections were exposed to histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, morphometric and serological studies. In response to SC therapy, vacuolated cytoplasm, dark nuclei, detached epithelial lining and desquamated nuclei were noticed in few collecting tubules (CT). 10, 20 and 30 days following therapy. The mean count of CT showing desquamated nuclei and mean value of serum creatinine revealed significant difference in ADR group. The mean area% of Prussian blue+ve cells and that of CD105 +ve cells measured in subgroup S1 denoted a significant increase compared to subgroups S2 and S3. CONCLUSIONS: ADR induced tubulointerstitial damage that regressed in response to cord blood HMSC therapy.