Effect of aerobic exercise against vanadyl sulphate-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Vanadium compounds are insulin like drugs which are accompanied with nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as their major side effects. Aerobic exercise is well known as an approach to reduce the side effects of many drugs. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the role of aerobic exercise against vanadyl sulphate induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group I had aerobic exercise on a treadmill 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Group II received vanadyl sulphate (50 mg/kg/week; i.p.) for 6 weeks. Group III had combination of exercise and vanadyl sulphate therapy as groups 1 and 2. At the end of study, blood samples were obtained, and the animals were sacrificed for the tissues injury determination. RESULTS: Vanadyl sulphate alone increased serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and kidney weight (KW) and kidney tissue damage score (KTDS) (P<0.05). These observations revealed nephrotoxicity induced by vanadyl sulphate, although exercise training did not attenuate these results. In addition, vanadyl sulphate alone induced liver tissue damage score and exercise training intensified it insignificantly, while the serum levels of aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase were greater in exercise alone group than others groups. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise could not attenuate vanadyl sulphate induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. These findings must be considered when vanadyl sulphate is suggested as insulin like drug.

Effect of enalapril in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats; gender-related difference.

BACKGROUND: The function of renin angiotensin system (RAS) is gender-related, and this system affects cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity. In this study, we compared the effect of enalapril as an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on CP-induced nephrotoxicity between male and female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two adult male and female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups. Both genders received CP (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and enalapril (30 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days in compared with CP alone or enalapril alone or vehicle alone treated groups. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained, and the kidney tissue was investigated for histopathological changes. RESULTS: CP increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as kidney weight and kidney tissue damage score in both genders (P < 0.05). However, not only enalapril failed to ameliorate the aforementioned parameters in both genders, but also it intensified nephrotoxicity in females (P < 0.05). In addition, enalapril enhanced body weight loss induced by CP in females (P < 0.05). CP alone decreased kidney level of nitrite in both genders (P < 0.05) and enalapril could not reverse this decreasing. The combination of enalapril and CP significantly increased serum level of nitrite in females, but this was not observed in males (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Enalapril as an ACE inhibitor failed to ameliorate nephrotoxicity induced by CP in both male and female rats. In addition, enalapril aggravated CP-induced nephrotoxicity in female possibly due to gender-dependent RAS response.

The effect of an specific inducible NO synthase inhibitor, S-methylisothiourea hemisulfate on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity; gender-related differences.

BACKGROUNDS: It has been previously demonstrated that the increase of nitric oxide (NO) level may promote cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor to prevent CP-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of male and four groups of female rats were treated daily with vehicle, S-methylisothiourea hemisulfate (SMT) as a selective iNOS inhibitor (5 mg/kg/twice a day), CP (2.5 mg/kg/day), and CP + SMT for 6 days. Then, all animals were sacrificed and the serum levels of creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), nitrite, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The kidney was removed immediately for histopathological study. RESULTS: Our results showed that inhibition of iNOS by SMT could make different response in male and female animals. SMT therapy in male animals decreased serum BUN, Cr, nitrite, and MDA levels; and it also protected kidney against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that decrease in NO production by SMT has a beneficial effect on reducing CP-induced nephrotoxicity in male. However, such beneficial effect was not observed in female animals.

Protective effect of pomegranate flower extract against gentamicin-induced renal toxicity in male rats.

INTRODUCTION: Gentamicin (GM) as an antibiotic is used in clinic. However, its administration is limited by side effects such as nephrotoxicity. Herbal extracts could be used in therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVES: The present study was planned to investigate whether pomegranate flower extract (PFE) could ameliorate GM-induced renal toxicity in male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty eight male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1 and 2 respectively received PFE 25 and 50 mg/kg for 9 days. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received saline, PFE 25 mg/kg, and PFE 50 mg/kg for 9 days, respectively, and GM (100 mg/kg/day) was administered from day 3 on. Blood samples were obtained, and after sacrificing the animals, the kidneys were removed for histopathology investigations. RESULTS: GM alone increased the serum levels of creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and tissue damage and kidney weight (P < 0.05). However, administration of low dose of PFE accompanied with GM decreased these markers significantly (P < 0.05). Low dose of PFE also ameliorated weight loss induced by GM (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that PFE 25 mg/kg is the effective dose to ameliorate nephrotoxicity induced by GM.

Preventive Role of Endothelin Antagonist on Kidney Ischemia: Reperfusion Injury in Male and Female Rats.

BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RIRI) is the most common cause of acute kidney injury. We tested the protective role of endothelin-1 receptor blocker; bosentan (BOS) in animal model of RIRI in two different genders. METHODS: Male and female Wistar rats were assigned as sham operated (sham), control group (ischemia), and case group (ischemia + BOS) treated with BOS (50 mg/kg) 2 h before bilateral kidney ischemia induced by clamping renal vessels for 45 min followed by 24 h of renal reperfusion. RESULTS: The RIRI significantly increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in both genders (P < 0.05). These values were significantly decreased by BOS in both genders. In male rats, the serum levels of malondialdehyde in the ischemia + BOS group were decreased significantly when compared with ischemia group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BOS can be used in both genders to attenuate kidney ischemia injury possibly due to its effect in the renal vascular system.

Angiotensin Type-1 Receptor Blockade May Not Protect Kidney against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Background. Cisplatin (CDDP) is an anticancer drug, which is accompanied with major side effects including nephrotoxicity. We tested two doses of losartan (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) against nephrotoxicity in a rat model treated with daily administration of CDDP (2.5 mg/kg/day). Methods. Five groups of rats were examined. Groups 1 and 2 received losartan 10 and 20 mg/kg/day, i.p, for a period of 10 days. Group 3 received saline for 10 days, but from day 3 the animals received CDDP (2.5 mg/kg/day, i.p) for the next seven days. Groups 4 and 5 received treatment regimen the same as groups 1 and 2, but from day 3 they also received CDDP for the next seven days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were obtained and the kidneys were removed to undergo pathological investigation and to obtain supernatant from homogenized tissue. Results. CDDP induced nephrotoxicity, but the serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were not attenuated by losartan. The pathological findings confirmed that losartan did not have nephroprotective effect in this experimental model. Conclusion. According to the findings, losartan could not improve renal function impaired by toxicity induced by continuous doses of CDDP, and also it worsened the renal failure.

Short-term Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Obesity and Aerobic Fitness of Adolescent Girls.

BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, physical activity has decreased during both childhood and adolescence, and particularly adolescence. It seems that schools are attractive settings in which to implement interventions designed in order to promote physical activity in children; but in Iranian students, few studies have evaluated the effects of such interventions on overweight and obese children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a short-term school-based physical activity on obesity and aerobic fitness in 12-14 years aged girls. METHODS: This is a study with single group pretest and posttest design, in which 129 middle school girls in city of Isfahan were assessed based on preventive plan of inactivity in children at the Provincial Health Office. Variables, including weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage and aerobic power of subjects were measured using valid tests. RESULTS: This study showed that subjects' body fat percentage changed about 3.6% (37.74% pretest vs. 36.39% posttest), VO2 max changed 7.43% (29.72 pretest vs. 31.93 posttest), WHR changed 1.12% (0.89 pretest vs. 0.88 posttest), whereas BMI was changed 1.65% (27.80 pretest vs. 27.34 posttest). Findings also revealed that there were significant differences between fat percent, (P = 0.001) and VO2 max (P = 0.001) of subjects, but there was no difference between BMI of them in pre- and post-tests (P = 0.361). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that even a short-term exercise intervention may lead to positive changes in body fat percentage, WHR and aerobic fitness of overweight children. Therefore, school-based physical activity interventions can be an effective preventive strategy to control obesity and overweight in students.

The Status of Preventive Behaviors in Traffic Accidents in Junior High School Students in Isfahan.

BACKGROUND: Population growth and use of the car in daily life entails new incidents and accidents everyday. Adolescents' entering the new world of adults, their insufficient knowledge of rules, and high-risk behaviors expose them to more risks. Accordingly, a study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the status of preventive behaviors in traffic accidents in boy and girl junior high school students in Isfahan regarding vehicle use. METHODS: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 7000 junior high school boy and girl students from 20 towns in Isfahan Province using multi-stage cluster sampling method in 2009-2010. A researcher-made questionnaire was used as data collection tool, which evaluated students' practice and preventive behaviors with 21 questions, each examining students' practice in accidents and incidents that may occur in school and on the way to school. Data were analyzed with Epi 6 and SPSS software using t-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Girls comprised 49.9% of students and 50.1% were boys, 84% lived in urban areas and 15.5% in rural areas. The frequency of an accident location was school in 53.9% with 3739 cases and on the way to school in 10.6% with 732 cases. Mean practice score of preventive behaviors in traffic accidents involving cars, taxi, and school bus (72.6 ± 17.52 girls, 72.7 ± 18.31 boys, P = 0.88), motorbike (79.1 ± 14.048 girls, 74.1 ± 19.73 boys, P < 0.001), bicycle (71.4 ± 16.56 girls, 68.5 ± 14.69 boys, P = 0.152), bus and minibus (91.8 ± 13.16 girls, 87 ± 18.65 boys, P < 0.001), crossing the street (30.5 ± 26.67 girls, 32.7 ± 28.03 boys, P = 0.003), and skating (60.6 ± 29.103 girls, 61.2 ± 26.84 boys, P = 0.927). Results indicate that girls have better preventive practices than boys in use of motorbikes, buses, and minibuses. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained, the majority of students walk to school and have the lowest practice score in this respect. It is recommended that as the first step, students be given necessary road traffic rules training, particularly how to cross the street.