Sex difference in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity: Influence of L-arginine in rat model

Abstract

Background:L-arginine is an important precursor for the formation of nitric oxide (NO). According to previous studies, NO function is related to gender. Likewise, chronic renal diseases have lower prevalence in female. Gentamicin (GM) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. According to some studies, males are more sensitive to GM renal nephrotoxicity. This study attempts to find protective effects of L-arginine on GM nephrotoxicity in male and female rats.Methods:Male and female rats were divided into eight groups: Rats were randomly assigned to 8 groups each including both male and female rats. The first and second groups received vehicle (saline), the third and fourth groups received gentamicin (80 mg/kg), the fifth and sixth groups received L-arginine (150 mg/kg), and finally, seventh and eighth groups received gentamicin+ L- arginine. Next, 9 days after administering drugs, blood samples were collected from the heart. After making sacrifices, the level of blood urea, creatinine (Cr), nitrite, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in serums. Likewise, nitrite and MDA were measured in the homogenized kidney tissue.Results:GM significantly increased serum level of urea and Cr in male and female rats (P < 0.05). However, co-administration of GM + L-arginine significantly did not decrease urea and Cr level in male rats, whereas, in female rats, they significantly reduced (P < 0.05). In response to GM, renal MDA level increased in male and female rats (P < 0.05), and in the presence of GM + L-arginine, the level of MDA significantly decreased in both genders (P < 0.05).Conclusions:L-arginine demonstrated some protective effects in female rats but did not protect against GM nephrotoxicity in male rats for unknown reasons, probably related to the effects of sex hormones which needs further studies to be confirmed.

Histological and biochemical study of the protective effects of Uncaria tomentosa versus L-arginine against fipronil-induced nephrotoxicity in male albino rats

“…By increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, L-arginine reduced the negative effects on endothelium and restored GFR [45] . Under conditions of oxidative stress brought on by renal failure, the primary factor controlling glomerular blood flow is NO [46,47] .…”

Exploring the impacts of Pycnogenol on pentraxin-3 levels in the heart tissue of rats administered with gentamicin

“…Group II (gentamicin group, n=7): A single dose of 80 mg/kg gentamicin was administered to the rats at the beginning of the experiment. 19 Group III (treatment group, gentamicin+Pycnogenol, n=7): The rats received a single dose of 80 mg/kg gentamicin at the beginning of the study19 and 50 mg/kg Pycnogenol dissolved in 1 mL of saline for 9 days. 20 Group IV (Pycnogenol group, n=7): Rats were administered orally 50 mg/kg Pycnogenol dissolved in 1 mL of saline for 9 days.…”

An Investigation of the Protective Influence of Dates Fruit Against Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Albino Rats Induced by Gentamicin

“…Dates from Medina are among the varieties of date palms that grow in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have high nutritional value due to their content of many major nutrients and important elements for nutrition [33,34]. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the possible nephroprotective properties of dates from Medina in experimental animals, specifically in the context of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.…”