The effect of vitamin E on the histological structure of kidney in rats treated with cyclophosphamide

Abstract EN

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a cytotoxic alkylating drug that is commonly used to treat autoimmune disorders and cancer.

CP causes nephrotoxicity by producing highly reactive radicals devoid of oxygen.

a fat-soluble vitamin e that interacts as a free radical scavenger, inhibiting nitrosamine production and blocking lipid peroxidation from polyunsaturated fatty acids.

the aim of this research was to see if vitamin e may help combating CP induced nephrotoxicity.

thirty-two adult albino female Westar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) and received daily treatment for thirty days.

group a considered as control group, receiving normal saline IP at dose of 0.3 ml, group b given 15 mg / kg B.W.

of cyclophosphamide IP, while group c received cyclophosphamide with vitamin e at dose 200 mg / kg, oral administration of vitamin e one hour before injection of cyclophosphamide, in group d they received vitamin e orally at dose of 200 mg kg body weight mixed with olive oil daily by oral gavage.

in group b the cyclophosphamide causes highly significant reduction in body weight and histologically showed atrophy of most glomeruli, distention in bowman’s space, tubular degeneration and luminal hyaline cast material, while in group c showed most of the glomeruli normal except atrophy of few number of glomeruli and focal epithelial degeneration of renal tubules.

our study found that one of the primary mechanisms induced by cyclophosphamide may be nephrotoxicity due to oxidative stress, and pretreatment with vitamin e reduces cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity.