| Title: | EFFECT OF LONG TERM ADMINISTRATION OF
ALUMINIUM AND SOME ANTIOXIDANTS
ON KIDNEY PROXIMAL TUBULAR
CELLS OF ALBINO RATS
(ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY |
| Full paper | Not Available |
| Abstract: |
Aluminium (Al) is one of the most abundant elements in the nature. There is constant exposure to this element through ingestion of food and water. Aluminium sulphate is used as a flocculating agent in the purification of municipal water supplies. In addition, the dietary aluminium can be derived from food additives in cake mixes, frozen dough and processed cheese. Aluminium salts are also widely used as drugs, many of which are ingested chronically and most of which have been classified in the past as safe for sale without a prescription from a physician. Long term administration of aluminium causes its accumulation in the tissues of vital organs, one of which is the kidney. 2 The aim of this study was to demonstrate the histochemical and ultrastructural changes in the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules of adult male albino rat kidney after long-term administration of aluminium with and without some antioxidants. Fifty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into five equal groups. All groups were fed on the basic laboratory diet. Group A (control) received distilled water. Group B (control) received 0.1 ml of olive oil orally daily. Group C received aqueous solution of aluminium chloride in a daily dose of 330 mg/Kg body weight. Group D received aluminium chloride as in group C but with a daily dose of vitamin C. Group E received aluminium chloride but with vitamin E. All animals were sacrificed after three months. The prepared kidney sections were subjected to histochemical techniques for demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase enzyme activities. Ultrathin prepared sections were examined under transmission electron microscope. It was demonstrated that, the activity of succinic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes was markedly diminished while acid phosphatase reaction was slightly increased in the examined sections from group C, while the reaction of these three enzymes was more or less the same in groups A, B, D and E. Electron microscopic examination of the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules obtained from kidneys of group C showed marked thickening of their basement membranes and their basal infolding were widely separated. There was partial destruction of the apical microvilli of the cells of the proximal tubules obtained from kidney of group E. The results were discussed from the fact that the frequent ingestion of aluminium indirectly through drinking of municipal water, taking buffered aspirin, some antiacids medicaments, food residues through cooking utensils and beverage packaging. These long-term administration 3 of aluminium causes its accumulation in the cells of the kidney proximal tubules. This aluminium accumulation induces oxidative damage in the cells of these tubules. These changes may be through enhancing lipid peroxidation or through inhibiting the activities of certain enzymes which are involved in removal of certain Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Therefore, the use of antioxidants may be of great value in preventing aluminium induced nephrotoxicity. Keywords: Aluminium and nephrotoxicity |