Protective effect of taurine on kidney in a rat model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of taurine on kidney in a rat model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.METHODS: Animal model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis was established by administration of 2.5% ethylene glycol+2.5% ammonium chloride 2 mL two doses daily to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats in company with restriction of drinking water intake for 4 weeks.Four groups of 8 rats each were studied group A,untreated control animals;group B,nephrolithiasis without treatment;group C,nephrolithiasis with taurine(2.0% mixed with the chow);group D,only taurine(2.0% mixed with the chow).Intake of drinking water in each group for each rat was limited to 20 mL/d.Indexes of oxidative stress(OS) and renal injury in urine and kidney,and the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in mitochondria of homogenized kidney samples were assessed at the day when the rats were sacrificed.Crystals deposited in kidney were scored under light microscopy.Renal tubular ultrastruture changes were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.Expression of macrophage cell marker CD68 in kidney was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Compared to the control group,oxidative stress and renal injury were developed after induction of nephrolithiasis,in accordance with increase in expression of CD68 in kidney.The enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px in mitochondria were decreased significantly.Administration of taurine significantly reduced OS and renal injury,as well as the crystals deposited in kidney.Expression of CD68 in kidney was also reduced,while the enzymatic activities of SOD and GSH-Px in mitochondria were improved significantly.CONCLUSION: Attributed to its antioxidant capacity,taurine showed renal protective action in this rat model of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.