Sulfasalazine-induced renal injury in rats and the protective role of thiol-reductants

Figures & data

Table 1. Markers of sulfasalazine-induced renal damage and the role of thiol-reductants administration.

Treatment	Kidney ROS (fluorescence intensity, FI)	Lipid peroxidation (nmol/mg tissue)	Kidney GSH (μmol/mg tissue)	Serum BUN (mg/dl)	Serum cratinine (mg/dl)
Control (vehicle-treated)	67,941 ± 12,337	1.99 ± 0.30	43.36 ± 4.22	25 ± 4	0.25 ± 0.03
+ Sulfasalazine 600 mg/kg/day	139,442 ± 17,832*	5.83 ± 0.49*	11.72 ± 1.21*	91 ± 4*	0.87 ± 0.06*
+ NAC 250 mg/kg	70,268 ± 9627^a	2.97 ± 0.21^a	22.20 ± 2.34^a	29 ± 8^a	0.4 ± 0.07^a
+ NAC 500 mg/kg	53,654 ± 4384^a	2.13 ± 0.20	25.14 ± 2.3^a	32 ± 6^a	0.33 ± 0.08^a
+ DTT 15 mg/kg	77,418 ± 13,590^a	2.53 ± 0.10^a	29.95 ± 1.80^a	34 ± 4^a	0.43 ± 0.08^a
+ DTT 30 mg/kg	44,519 ± 5323^a	1.9 ± 0.27^a	35.97 ± 2.17^a	35 ± 6^a	0.38 ± 0.03^a

Data are given as Mean ± SEM for each group (n = 6). NAC, N-acetyl cysteine; DTT, dithiothreitol.

* Significantly different as compared with the control (vehicle-treated) group (p < 0.05).

^a Significantly different as compared with the sulfasalazine-treated group (p < 0.05).

Figure 1. Effects of thiol reducing agents administration on kidney histopathological changes in sulfasalazine-treated animals. Rats received sulfasalazine (600 mg/kg/day, PO) for 14 consecutive days alone and/or in combination with intraperitoneal administration of thiol-reductants. (A) Photomicrograph of kidney section taken from control (vehicle-treated) rats, representing normal tubules. (B) Sulfasalazine-treated rats, showing marked tubular atrophy, focal necrosis, interstitial inflammation, and vascular congestion. (C) and (D) Animals received sulfasalazine and NAC (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively). Tubular atrophy is detected in these groups, but there is no sign of tubular necrosis in animals treated with 500 mg/kg of NAC. (E) Rats were treated with sulfasalazine and DTT (15 mg/kg). (F) Animals received sulfasalazine and DTT (30 mg/kg). Sulfasalazine-induced focal necrosis was absent in this group.

Figure 2. Sulfasalazine-induced renal damage and the proposed mechanisms of reno-protection provided by thiol-reductants.