Vitamin C pretreatment protects from nickel-induced acute nephrotoxicity in mice

Abstract

Nickel is an abundant carcinogenic and nephrotoxic metal whose activity leads to renal impairment. Previous studies have shown a protective effect of simultaneous vitamin C administration on acute and chronic nickel toxicity. However, very little research relating to the effect of vitamin C pretreatment in preventing nickel-induced acute nephrotoxicity is available. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the efficiency of vitamin C (VC) pretreatment in preventing acute renal toxicity of nickel. Mice were pretreated orally with vitamin C (16.6 mg kg -1 body weight, b.w.) for seven consecutive days, prior to intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of nickel chloride at different doses (3, 5, and 10 mg Ni kg -1 b.w.) for an exposure period of 24 hours. Thereafter, animals were killed and kidney tissue and blood samples were taken for histological examination and biochemical marker analyses. Vitamin C pretreatment alone did not alter the levels of serum kidney markers (creatinine, urea, and uric acid). However, treatment with Ni alone showed a significant increase in the levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid with marked necrotic epithelial cells and infiltration by inflammatory cells in kidney sections as compared to the control group. Pretreatment with vitamin C and treatment with Ni at all doses tested for 24 hours showed a significant decrease in the levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid, as well as an improvement in histological changes compared to those previously seen in the group treated with Ni alone. It is concluded that vitamin C pretreatment effectively improved renal function and tissue damage caused by nickel.

Protective Role for Antioxidants in Acute Kidney Disease

“…Vitamin C also protects against NSAID-induced AKI in rats by improving kidney function and renal lesions, serum oxidative stress, and tissue inflammation, comparatively to vitamin E administration [ 89 ]. It is also protective against nickel-induced toxicity in mice, by improving renal function, inflammation and renal tubular degeneration, and necrosis [ 128 ]. This finding supports earlier evidence of decreased nickel-induced oxidative stress in other organ systems with ascorbate [ 129 ].…”

“…This finding supports earlier evidence of decreased nickel-induced oxidative stress in other organ systems with ascorbate [ 129 ]. Interestingly, vitamin C supplementation reduces nickel accumulation in the kidney [ 128 ], suggesting benefit independent of ROS scavenging.…”

Ethanol extract of Nigella sativa has antioxidant and ameliorative effect against nickel chloride-induced hepato-renal injury in rats

“…Therefore, the elevation of both products in the group treated with NiCl 2 could be due to the nephrotoxic effect of NiCl 2 to renal cells. Earlier works have shown that NiCl 2 is a nephrotoxin and similar elevation of creatinine and urea were observed in mice [53]. Renal impairment often results in perturbation of electrolytes balance.…”

The Effects of Cornus mas Hydro-Methanolic Extract on Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

“…[12][13][14][15][16] In some previous studies, oral administration of vitamin C showed remarkable protection against kidney damage and histopathological changes induced by cisplatin, lead, and nickel in rats. [33][34][35] More investigations are needed to explain the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects that remain unexplained. The small sample size and limited CME dose range are limitations of the current study.…”