Histological and ultrastructureal assessment of the protective effect of vitamin E against ciprofloxacin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the histological and ultrastructural effects of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in the kidney of male albino rats. The beneficial effects of vitamin E along with the antibiotic were also studied. The histopathological results showed different alterations in the renal corpuscles and renal convoluted tubular epithelial cells due to ciprofloxacin treatments. These alterations varied from vacuolation, pyknosis to necrosis and complete degenerated parts of the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. The renal corpuscles exhibited a different degree of thickened Bowman`s capsule, obliterated Bowman`s space and proliferation of the cells within the glomeruli as well as collapse in some glomeruli. These changes were mostly pronounced with the high dose of the antibiotic. Marked ultrastructural changes were noticed with the two doses in the proximal tubular epithelial cells. These changes were mainly concentrated in irregular shaped nuclei with disturbed chromatin, swelling and fusion of mitochondria, increase in lysosomes containing myeloid bodies and cytoplasmic vacuoles as well as disintegration in the brush border. Administration of the vitamin E simultaneously with the antibiotic resulted in vast attenuation of the nephrotoxicity especially with the low dose of this drug. It is therefore suggested that vitamin E could be considered as an effective protective agent against the adverse effect ciprofloxacin.