Pharmacological effects of Vitamin C & E on Diclofenac Sodium intoxicated Rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the probable protective effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on diclofenac-induced acute nephrotoxicity using biochemical, molecular and histopathological examination in rats following administration of diclofenac sodium (50mg/kg, I.M).


METHODS
Ninety male Wister rats were allotted in six equal groups. Rats in the 1st group (control group) were injected with physiological saline, while rats in the 2nd group (C-group) were given vitamin C (100mg/kg orally via stomach tube) for 5 successive days. The 3rd group (E-group) was given vitamin E (250mg/kg orally in diet) for 5 successive days. Rats in the 4th group (D-group) were injected by diclofenac sodium (50mg/kg, I.M) for 5 successive days. The 5th group (DvC-group) was given diclofenac sodium (50mg/kg, I.M) and vitamin C (100mg/kg orally via stomach tube) for 5 successive days. Rats in the 6th group (DvE-group) were given diclofenac sodium (50mg/kg, I.M) and vitamin E (250mg/kg orally in diet) for 5 successive days. Blood samples were collected two days post treatment (1st week of experiment), 2nd and 4th week of the experiment for assessment of urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase activities. At the end of 4th week, rats were sacrificed and kidneys were excised for biochemical analyses, histopathological evaluation and determination of kidney interleukin-1β, interleukin-18, demsin and nepherin expressions in by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The results showed that, diclofenac induced severe kidney damage as indicated by histopathological changes and increased serum oxidative stress parameters. Behavioral changes were monitored; a significant increase in uremia in intoxicated animals was also noted indicating that diclofenac sodium provoked kidney damage in rats. Application of vitamin C (DvC-group) and vitamin E (DvE-group) were found to improve the abovementioned abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that, vitamin C and vitamin E might play an important role in reducing oxidative stress and kidney damage induced by diclofenac sodium.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt. Electronic address: dr_reham16@yahoo.com.
Reham A
RA
El-Shafei
Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
Rasha M
RM
Saleh
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004008:Diclofenac; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014810:Vitamin E; D004008:Diclofenac; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
Diclofenac sodium; Kidney injury-markers; Oxidative stress; Vitamin C; Vitamin e