Enalapril effect on rat renal changes after whole body irradiation. immunohistochemical and electron microscopical studies

ABSTRACT

Radiation of the kidney often leads to renal dysfunction associated with morphological alterations. The current study has been performed to investigate the possible protective role of enalapril in minimizing the radiation induced renal injury. The effect of whole body gamma irradiation at 8 Gy [single dose] was compared in rats treated with enalapril with untreated rats. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies were done on rat's kidneys 4 and 10 weeks after irradiation. The results showed that irradiation lead to glomerular and tubular damage and collagen deposition. Enalapril treated irradiated kidneys had less renal damage and less collaged deposition. The present results indicated that enalapril has a protective role against the harmful effect caused by irradiation in both the parenchymatous damage and fibrosis