Carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity and protective effect of betaine in Sprague-Dawley rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes in the antioxidative defense enzymes and to detect the alterations of renal microscopy after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration in rats and to investigate the possible protective effects of betaine against CCl4-induced renal damage.


METHODS
Thirty-two adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups as follows: control group, betaine group, CCl4 group, and CCl4 + betaine group. CCl4 was given subcutaneously at 1 mL/kg. In the CCl4 + betaine group, rats were pretreated with betaine, then exposed to CCl4 at the same dose. Betaine group rats received concentrated betaine solution. The rats were killed and the kidneys taken for enzyme analyses and histologic examination. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were measured in right kidney homogenates. Left kidneys were processed for light microscopic evaluation.


RESULTS
In the CCl4-treated group, significant increases in kidney superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and significant decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity were observed (P <0.01). These changes were found to be normalized in the CCl4 + betaine group. Betaine did not change the enzyme activities. Exposure to CCl4 resulted in glomerular and tubular alterations in the renal cortex. These alterations were found to be prevented by betaine pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that exposure to CCl4 leads to renal damage in rats and betaine exerts an improvement on nephrotoxic effects of CCl4.
Ozturk
Feral
F
Department of Histology-Embryology, Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Ucar
Muharrem
M
Ozturk
I Cetin
IC
Vardi
Nigar
N
Batcioglu
Kadir
K
D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D020011:Protective Agents; D001622:Betaine; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride