Background/Aim: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an anti-cancer agent that mediates nephrotoxicity. Beta (β)-glucan has restorative effects on kidney toxicities through its antioxidant potential; however, the effects of β-glucan on CP-induced renal injury remain unknown. In an experimental nephrotoxicity model using rats, we sought to examine the potential protective action of β-glucan on kidney histomorphology, apoptosis, and TNF-α expression. Methods: Male albino Wistar rats were divided equally into four groups: control, CP, β-glucan, and CP+β-glucan. The kidney tissues of the rats were examined for TNF-α and caspase-3 immunostaining to evaluate inflammation and apoptosis, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining were used for histopathological analyses. Results: The CP group showed severe histopathological damage in the renal tissues of rats. In the renal tissue of the CP group, immunoreactivities for TNF-α (1.25 [0.079] and caspase-3 (1.506 [0.143] were also higher than the control group (0.117 [0.006] and 0.116 [0.002], respectively; P<0.001). In the CP+β-glucan group, the histopathological changes significantly improved. Conclusion: Beta-glucan has therapeutic potential against CP-induced nephrotoxicity in rat kidney.

Hypertension is responsible for approximately 30% of patients who reach end-stage renal disease. Caspase-3 is an important protein in the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. The presence of fibrillin-1(FBN1) microfibrils in the structure of the kidney glomerulus causes changes in FBN1 levels in the hypertensive kidney. Statin therapy is known to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease. In this study, the changes in caspase-3 and FBN1 in the kidney tissue of rats with hypertension using N-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) were investigated along with how rosuvastatin affected the changes caused by hypertension on these proteins. To induce hypertension, rats were given L-NAME for 7 weeks. After the second week, rosuvastatin was given by oral gavage for 5 weeks. Blood pressure values were evaluated on days 0, 14, 28, 42. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed and caspase-3 and FBN1 levels were evaluated. Blood pressures were found to be higher in the hypertension group on the 14th, 28th, and 42nd days (p