ABSTRACT
The cyclosporine is now established as the immunosuppressant of choice in human organ
transplantation, because it improves graft survival. Unfortunately, the cyclosporine can lead to a
wide spectrum of nephrotoxic complications. The aim of this study was to asses the effect of
lacidipine (calcium antagonist) on the cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Thirty adult
albino rats were used this study. They were divided into three groups: control group, cyclosporine
group and lacidipine treated group. The rats of cyclosporine group were received a dose of 50
mg/kg of body weight for two weeks by daily oral administration. The rats of lacidipine treated
group were received the same dose of cyclosporine for 14 days along with lacidipine lmg /kg of
body weight by daily oral administration three days before and fourteen days concurrently with
cyclosporine treatment. At the end of the experiment, there was marked elevation of serum urea and
creatinine levels in the cyclosporine group. Lacidipine treatment significantly (P <0.05) reduced
the elevated serum urea and creatinine. In control group, the histological examination of the rat
renal cortex showed normal glomeruli and Bowman's capsule. The tubules which were seen in the
sections consist mainly of the proximal convoluted tubules and some distal convoluted tubules. The
proximal convoluted tubules are lined by columnar cells with rounded nuclei and prominent
nucleoli. These cells have many microvilli which form a brush border. The cytoplasm of these cells
contains mitochondria, few vesicle and small sized lysosomes. The renal corpuscles and tubules are
surrounded by minimal amount of loose connective tissue. In cyclosporine group, the sections of the
rat renal cortex showed necrosis of some glomeruli, thickening of the Bowman's capsule and
degeneration of some tubules. There are hyaline degeneration of other tubules and marked
deposition of condensed amount of connective tissue in the renal interstitium. The cytoplasm of
cells lining the proximal tubules contains increased number of lysosomes, many vacuoles and
vesicles. Some mitochondria are degenerated. In lacidipine treated group, the lacidipine treatment
effectively prevented the cyclosporine induced changes in the renal cortex. |
