ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Gentamicin is an effective aminoglycoside antibiotic employed against severe Gram-negative bacterial infections, but induction of nephrotoxicity limits its frequent clinical use. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of catechin hydrate on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. METHODS: Rats were administered nephrotoxic dose of gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) once daily for 14 days. Gentamicin-administered rats were treated with catechin hydrate (50 mg/kg/day, per os), the treatment was started 3 days before the administration of gentamicin while it was continued for 14 days from the day of gentamicin administration. RESULTS: Two weeks administration of gentamicin significantly increased the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Renal histopathological examination of gentamicin-administered rats revealed degenerative changes in glomeruli and tubules after 2 weeks. These renal structural and functional abnormalities in gentamicin-administered rats were accompanied with renal oxidative stress as assessed in terms of marked decrease in renal-reduced glutathione (GSH). However, catechin hydrate treatment showed considerably nephroprotective action against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by preventing aforementioned renal structural and functional abnormalities and oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: Catechin hydrate has a potential to prevent gentamicin-induced experimental nephrotoxicity. The renoprotective effect of catechin hydrate against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity might be mediated through its antioxidant and possible direct nephroprotective actions.
