Effect of calcium acetate and quercetin on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Abstract

Objective: The present work was conducted to evaluate the possible renoprotective effect of both calcium acetate and quercetin against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat.

Design: Controlled study.

Animals: Seven groups of male albino rats.

Procedures: Seventy, apparently healthy, male albino rats were haphazardly divided into seven equal groups. Group 1: injected I.P with normal saline (control), Group 2: received gentamicin (80 mg/kg/d, I.P for 7 consecutive days), Group 3: received gentamicin plus lower dose of calcium acetate (75 mg/kg/d, orally for 7 consecutive days) simultaneously, Group 4: received gentamicin plus higher dose of calcium acetate (200 mg/kg/d, orally for 7 consecutive days) simultaneously, Group 5: received gentamicin; afterwards, rats were treated with quercetin (50 mg/kg/d, orally for 7 consecutive days, Group 6: received quercetin; afterwards, rats were simultaneously treated with gentamicin plus quercetin with the same doses, and Group 7: received gentamicin, calcium acetate (lower dose), and quercetin simultaneously.

Results: The study demonstrated the nephrotoxic impacts of gentamicin biochemically and histopathologically. Gentamicin treatment induced a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels besides a significant elevation in C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The significant increase in the tissue malondialdehyde(MDA) level and the significant reduction in the tissue superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione(GSH) levels demonstrated that gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was mediated through oxidative stress reactions. Gentamicin-induced degenerative changes in renal tubules and glomeruli were also reported.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: The use of both calcium acetate (lower and higher doses) or quercetin (therapeutically and prophylactically) in combination with gentamicin significantly minimized its nephrotoxicity as revealed from decreasing BUN, serum creatinine, CRP levels, oxidative stress reactions, and histopathological alterations with better protective effect of quercetin than Ca acetate. Co-administration of both calcium acetate and quercetin with gentamicin could prevent gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.