Protective effect of hydrogen sulfide on gentamicin-induced renal injury

Figures & data

Table 1. Effects of GEN alone and its combination with H₂S on plasma urea, creatinine, Na, K and 24-h urine volume levels in rats.

Parameters	Control (Group 1)	GEN (Group 2)	GEN + Ve (Group 3)	GEN + NaHS (Group 4)
Urea (mg/dl)	33 ± 7.8	107 ± 13.9^a	105 ± 13.4	42.8 ± 6.9^b
Creatinine (mg/dl)	0.42 ± 0.1	2.08 ± 0.4^a	1.97 ± 0.4	0.98 ± 0.09^b
Na (mmol/l)	138.9 ± 1.3	139.9 ± 2.5	139.3 ± 2.2	137.8 ± 1.9
K (mmol/l)	3.88 ± 0.2	4.1 ± 0.5	4.04 ± 0.4	3.94 ± 0.28
24-h urine  volume (ml)	8.9 ± 1.2	21.2 ± 4.1^a	20.1 ± 3.2	10.8 ± 2.4^b

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± SD for six rats in each group.

Groups: Control, GEN (gentamicin), GEN + Ve (gentamicin + vehicle), GEN + NaHS (gentamicin + sodium hydrogen sulfide).

^aSignificantly different from control.

^bSignificantly different from gentamicin group (p < 0.001).

Figure 1. (a) Normal tubulus and glomerules in kidney cortex H&E × 100 (control group). (b) Severe tubular necrosis, tubular degeneration and epithelial vacuolization in the proximal tubules ×H&E 100 (GEN-treated group). (c) Moderate tubular necrosis, tubular degeneration and epithelial vacuolization in the proximal tubules H&E × 200 (GEN + vehicle-treated group). (d) Mild epithelial granulovacuolization in the proximal tubules and normal glomerules H&E × 100 (GEN + NaHS-treated group).

Table 2. Effects of H₂S on rat kidney NO, MDA and GSH levels.

Parameters	Control (Group 1)	GEN (Group 2)	GEN + Ve (Group 3)	GEN + NaHS (Group 4)
NO (nmol/g  wet tissue)	29.8 ± 8.5	47.6 ± 7.2^a	44.9 ± 5.7	32.8 ± 6.4^b
MDA (nmol/g  wet tissue)	2.6 ± 0.7	4.2 ± 1.1^a	3.9 ± 1.1	2.8 ± 1.6^b
GSH (μmol/g  wet tissue)	2.4 ± 0.9	1.4 ± 0.5^a	1.3 ± 0.6	2.3 ± 0.6^b

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± SD for six rats in each group.

NO, nitric oxide; MDA, malondialdehyde; GSH, glutathione.

^aSignificantly different from control.

^bSignificantly different from gentamicin group (p < 0.05).

Figure 2. (a) Severe mononuclear leukocyte infiltration in the cortex of GEN-treated group. (hematoxylin & eosin, ×400). (b) Leukocyte infiltration was reduced in the NaHS-treated group (hematoxylin & eosin, ×400).

Figure 3. (a) Normal kidney morphology in a control group (masson & trichrome ×200). (b) Severe fibrosis was observed in the peritubular interstitium of the GEN-treated group (masson & trichrome ×400). (c) Mild fibrosis was reduced in the NaHS-treated group (masson & trichrome ×400).

Table 3. Semiquantitative analysis of tubular necrosis, interstitiel fibrosis, leukocte infiltration in control, GEN, GEN + Ve and GEN + NaHS group.

		Tubular necrosis				Interstitial fibrosis				Mononuclear cell infiltration
	n	0	1	2	3	0	1	2	3	0	1	2	3
Control	6	6	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	5	1	0	0
GEN^a	6	0	0	4	2	0	0	4	2	0	1	2	3
Gen + Ve	6	0	0	3	3	0	1	3	2	0	1	3	2
GEN + NaHS^b	6	1	3	2	0	2	3	1	0	1	1	4	0

Notes: Score 0, no degeneration; 1, mild degeneration; 2, moderate degeneration; 3, severe degeneration.

^aStatistical significant difference from the control group.

^bStatistical significant difference from the GEN and GEN + Ve group and p < 0.05.