Protective effect of Spirulina against cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity in mice

Figures & data

Table

Group 1	The negative control (C) group	animals received one i.p. injection of 0.5 ml saline.
Group 2	The positive control (CP) group	mice received an i.p. injection of CP dissolved in 0.5 ml saline at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight.
Group 3	Sp group	mice received an oral dose of Sp of 600 mg/kg body weight in 0.5 ml water for nine successive days.
Group 4	treatment group (CP + Sp)	mice were treated as in the CP group, and from day four after CP injection, mice were administered Sp at a dose of 600 mg/kg body weight.
Group 5	prophylactic group (Sp + CP)	mice were treated as in the Sp group for 9 days and were given one i.p. injection of CP (40 mg/kg body weight) on day four after the first dose of Sp.

Table 1 Serum MDA, GSH, Se and Zn levels in the experimental groups at day 9.

Group	GSH (mg/dl)	MDA (nM/ml)	Se (µg/ml)	Zn (µg/ml)
Control	4.65 ± 0.12	0.68 ± 0.02	0.15 ± 0.007	1.46 ± 0.07
CP	2.25 ± 0.06^a	4.51 ± 0.12^a	0.11 ± 0.005^a	1.13 ± 0.023^a
Sp	8.62 ± 0.08^b	0.42 ± 0.04^b	0.22 ± 0.007^b	1.64 ± 0.1^b
CP + Sp group	3.75 ± 0.21	2.14 ± 0.20^b	0.13 ± 0.006^b	1.0 ± 0.07^b
Sp + CP group	5.85 ± 0.18^b	0.54 ± 0.04^b	0.145 ± 0.01^b	1.3 ± 0.06^b

a P < 0.05 vs. control group.

b P < 0.05, compared with CP group. Groups: Control, i.p. injection of saline on day 1; CP, CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 1; Sp, Sp (600 mg/kg, p.o.) for 9 days; CP + Sp, CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 1 and Sp (600 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from days 4–9; Sp + Cp, Sp (600 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from days 1–9 and CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 4. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 10). MDA, malondialdehyde; GSH, glutathione; Zn, Zinc; Se, selenium; Sp, Spirulina; CP, cyclophoSphamide; i.p., intraperitoneal; p.o., per os.

Table 2 Hematological parameters in each experimental group.

Group	RBCs (10^6/μl)	Hb (g/dl)	Platelets (10^3/μl)	WBCs (10^3/μl)
Control	9.90 ± 0.21	14.91 ± 0.32	1012 ± 56	8.90 ± 0.60
CP	8.10 ± 0.46^a	9.30 ± 0.31^a	493 ± 52.3^a	4.30 ± 0.53^a
Sp	10.0 ± 0.20^b	15.60 ± 0.35^b	1007 ± 42^b	9.20 ± 0.51^b
CP + Sp	8.30 ± 0.40^b	10.91 ± 0.61^b	591 ± 50.41^b	6.50 ± 0.24^b
Sp + CP	9.2 ± 0.41^b	12.9 ± 0.70^b	794 ± 52.3^b	7.31 ± 0.37^b

a P < 0.001 vs. control group.

b P < 0.001 vs. CP group. Groups: Control, i.p injection of saline on day 1; CP, CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 1; Sp, Sp (600 mg/kg, p.o.) for 9 days; CP + Sp, CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 1 and Sp (600 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from days 4–9; Sp + Cp, Sp (600 mg/kg/day, p.o.) from days 1–9 and CP (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on day 4. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 10). RBCs, red blood cells; WBC, total white blood cell count, Hb, hemoglobin; Sp, Spirulina; CP, cyclophoSphamide; i.p., intraperitoneal; p.o., per os.

Fig. 1a A urinary bladder in a mice received only saline showing normal structure (Hx&Ex100).

Fig. 1b A urinary bladder from a mice received Spirulina only showing normal mucosa of the urinary bladder (Hx&Ex200).

Fig. 2a A urinary bladder from a mice received only cyclophoSphamide showing interstitial haemorrhage (Hx&Ex200).

Fig. 2b A urinary bladder from a mice received only cyclophoSphamide showing marked edema and epithelial desquamation (Hx&Ex200).

Fig. 2c A urinary bladder from a mice received only cyclophoSphamide showing marked edema and cloudy swelling of the epithelial cells (Hx&Ex200).

Fig. 3a A urinary bladder in a mice received cyclophoSpamide followed by Spirulina showing normal structure (Hx&Ex200).

Fig. 3b A urinary bladder in a mice received cyclophoSpamide followed by Spirulina showing desquamated epithelial cells.

Fig. 3c A urinary bladder in a mice received cyclophoSphamid followed by Spirulina showing epithelial cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei which suggest attempt for healing (H&Ex200).

Fig. 3d A urinary bladder in a mice received cyclophoSphamid followed by Spirulina showing epithelial cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei which suggest attempt for healing (H&Ex200).

Fig. 4 A urinary bladder from a mice received Spirulina before cyclophoSphamide showing normal structure without histopathological changes (Hx&Ex200).