title: Lead-induced morphometric changes in the kidneys of albino rats ameliorated by ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of ginkgo biloba extract on lead-induced morphometric changes in the kidneys of albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomised controlled study was conducted at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from April 2009 to March 2010, and comprised male Wistar albino rats weighing between 150-180 gm who were randomly divided into three equal groups, A, B and C. These were further split into subgroups 1, 2, 3 and 4 according to the duration of the experiment (one, two, four and six weeks). Group A rats were given 1 ml normal saline intraperitoneally daily, group B rats were given lead acetate 8mg/kg intraperitoneally daily, while group C animals received 100mg/kg ginkgo biloba extract orally along with 8mg/kg lead acetate injection. The animals were sacrifised at the end of the prescribed period, and kidneys were retrieved, fixed, stained and examined under light microscope. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 120 rats, there were 40(33.3%) in each group. Time-dependent deterioration was observed in the histological architecture of kidneys in group B animals compared to the group A animals, whereas less marked changes were observed in the protected group C animals. In group B animals, the diameter of proximal convoluted tubules increased, the number of proximal convoluted tubules and their nuclei decreased, whereas diameter of the nuclei decreased after an initial increase during the first and second weeks. These parameters remained largely undisturbed in group A animals, whereas changes in group C animals were comparable with those in the controlled group A animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginkgo biloba extract had a protective effect on lead-induced morphometric changes in the kidneys of albino rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zaheer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amjad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasmin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khalida
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perveen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Liaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amir Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shoro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007854:Lead; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract; C008261:lead acetate
keywords: Lead acetate, Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb761, Kidney, Antioxidant.