title: Nephrotoxicity of sodium valproate and protective role of L-cysteine in rats at biochemical and histological levels.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether the combination of sodium valproate (SV) with L-cysteine (LC) can decrease the SV toxicity of kidneys. SV caused alternation in oxidative/antioxidant balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biochemical estimations included the determination of oxidative stress markers like thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in kidney tissue, and enzymatic antioxidant activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase as well as total antioxidant capacity were evaluated in renal tissues. Creatinine and uric acid levels in the serum were also determined to assess kidney function. Pathological examination of the kidney was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increasing the levels of lipid peroxidation and decreasing the enzymatic activity (SOD, CAT, and GPx) as well as total antioxidant capacity of rats was shown with different doses of SV. Impairment in renal function tests suggests a decreased glomerular filtration rate, as serum creatinine was elevated. Histopathological changes of kidney tissue treated with SV reveal the proximal and the distal convoluted tubules that show hydropic changes (small white vacuoles within the cytoplasm and the glomeruli show hypercellularity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concurrent administration of LC with SV significantly had beneficial effects on the kidney and all the above parameters have been improved.
authors.forename: Nahla S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: El-Shenawy
authors.forename: Reham Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Hamza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D020011:Protective Agents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014635:Valproic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione; D003545:Cysteine