EFFICACY OF PROBIOTIC (PROTOXINE) ON MERCURY-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN RATS

Abstract

Mercury is the third most dangerous heavy metal and its toxicity causes serious risks to health through unfavorable pathological and biochemical effects of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the possible protective role of protoxine, a probiotic, on mercuric chloride-induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes in the kidneys of the experimented rats. Adult male Wistar albino rats were daily exposed to mercuric chloride (0.25 mg kg-1) in the diet and water together for 20 days. Treatment with mercuric chloride led to oxidative stress by elevating malondialdehyde (MDA) level and also decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. Furthermore, mercuric chloride exposure induced histopathological changes characterized by tubulonecrosis in the renal tissue of intoxicated rats. MDA level, SOD, GSH-Px activities and histopathological changes were modulated in concomitantly daily supplementation of protoxine (12 mg rat-1) to mercuric chloride-treated groups. Results from current study suggested mercuric chloride treatment resulted lipid peroxidation, alterations of enzymatic antioxidant defense system and histolopathological changes in the kidneys of male rats. The administration of protoxine proved to be beneficial in ameliorating the mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity.