Protective Effect of Quercetin on Histomorphometric Changes in Kidney of Retinoid Acid-Treated Rat Fetuses

Abstract

KHAKSARY-MAHABADY, M.; RANJBAR, R.; NAJAFZADEH-VARZI, H.; MOHAMMADIAN, B. & GOHARI-BEHBAHANI, N.Protective effect of quercetin on histomorphometric changes in kidney of retinoid acid-treated rat fetuses. Int. J. Morphol., 36(1):338-344, 2018. SUMMARY:Retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, plays essential signaling roles in mammalian embryogenesis. Prenatal rat fetuse exposure to retinoid induces some malformations in various organs, the most active and teratogenic metablolite is all-transretinoic acid (atRA). The teratogenic effects of some drugs can be prevented by the application of antioxidant drugs and stimulation of the maternal immune system. Also, quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid has excellent antioxidant properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was assess the protective effects of quercetin against atRA in fetuses of rat's kidney tissue. This study was performed on 40 pregnant rats that were divided into seven groups. Control group received normal saline and test groups received DMSO, quercetin (75 mg/kg), quercetin (200 mg/kg), atRA (25 mg/kg), atRA (25 mg/kg) plus quercetin (75 mg/kg) and atRA (25 mg/kg) plus quercetin (200 mg/kg), intraperitoneally at 8-10th days of gestation. Fetuses were collected at 20th day of gestation. Kidneys were collected and placed in 10 % buffered formalin solution. Then, kidneys were sectioned by routine method and stained by H&E and examined histologically. On histomorphomertrical examination, it was observed the priglomerular space and diameter of renal corpuscle in group which received only atRA were significantly (p≤0.05) greater than those received normal saline, dimethyl sulfoxide and quercetin, while these two indexes in group which received atRA plus quercetin significantly (p≤0.05) decreased by quercetin as dose dependent manner. Number of renal corpuscles were significantly (p≤0.05) decreased by atRA, but the quercetin could not affect the glomerular numbers. It is concluded that quercetin can protect fetuses against atRA damages and prevent their incidence probably via its antioxidant effect.

Flavonoids: A vital resource in healthcare and medicine

“…The positive correlation between flavonoid intake and cancer incidence has been demonstrated in several in vitro and in vivo studies in addition to various clinical trials and meta-analyses. [99][100][101][102] Although the underlying chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic mechanisms are needed to be elucidated, flavonoids have been thoroughly investigated as to how they modulate various key elements in cellular signal transduction pathways and their effect on cell fate determination processes. [103][104][105] Most dietary flavonoids not only inhibit the growth of tumor cells but also promote cell differentiation by quenching oxidative stress and inflammatory response.…”

Pharmacological Effect of Quercetin in Hypertension and Its Potential Application in Pregnancy‐Induced Hypertension: Review of In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Studies

“…It is known that several flavonoids can cross the placenta and may be accumulated in fetal tissue [96, 97]. It was found that quercetin affects pregnancy in animal model [97–103]. According to Vanhees et al, when female mice were exposed to quercetin (302 mg/kg feed) from 3 days before conception until day 14.5 of gestation, no negative effects on placenta or fetal development were found [97].…”

“…Exposure to quercetin during pregnancy resulted in upregulation of genes involved in enzymatic antioxidant defense system of the liver of fetuses at day 14.5 of gestation [97]. Recently, Khaksary-Mahabady et al [103] have observed a protective effect of quercetin (75 mg/kg) on histomorphometric changes of kidneys of fetuses in pregnant rats treated with all-transretinoic acid (a teratogenic metabolite). Interestingly, Toumi et al [104] have shown that besides a protective effect with respect to hematological and behavioral anomalies in traumatized pregnant rats, quercetin (50 mg/kg per 6 days) may lastingly modulate behavior of their progeny.…”

“…Cytoprotective effects of quercetin were also observed in rat fetal liver in a study where [102] concentrations of malondialdehyde were lower and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities were higher in the group treated with ciprofloxacin (20 mg/kg) plus quercetin (20 mg/kg) for 21 days compared to the group after ciprofloxacin alone. Mahabady and Varzi [103] studied the prophylactic effect of quercetin (75 mg/kg) on teratogenic effects of caffeine (80 mg/kg), which was given intraperitoneally at 9th through 11th day of gestation of rats. It was observed that caffeine with quercetin significantly reduced incidence of cleft palate to 1.49% when compared to caffeine alone.…”