NEPHROPROTECTIVE ROLE OF NIGELLA SATIVA OIL IN BIFENTHRIN-INTOXICATED MICE

In continuation of a previous study on the rehabilitative and regenerative potential of Nigella sativa seed oil (NsO) on bifenthrin (Bf)-induced hepato-histopathologies, the aim of the present study was to examine the potential of NsO to ameliorate the renal histopathologies induced by Bf exposure in male Swiss Webster mice. Thirty animals were placed in 6 groups (5 each) and given daily treatments for two weeks vis-a-vis; 1: corn oil (CO) group [0.1 mL pure CO on days 1-14]; 2: NsO (Nigella sativa oil) group [CO as in the CO group on days 1-7 + 0.1 mL 10% NsO in CO on days 8-14]; 3: Bf 2.5 mg/kg+CO (Bf2.5+CO) group [2.5 mg/kg Bf in 0.1 mL CO on days 1-7 and 0.1 mL pure CO on days 8-14]; 4: Bf 5 mg/kg+CO (Bf5+CO) group [5 mg/kg Bf in 0.1 mL CO on days 1-7 and 0.1 mL pure CO on days 8-14]; 5: Bf 2.5 mg/kg+NsO (Bf2.5+NsO) group [2.5 mg/kg Bf in 0.1 mL CO on days 1-7 and 0.1 mL 10% NsO in CO on days 8-14], and, 6: Bf 5 mg/kg+NsO (Bf5+NsO) group [5 mg/kg Bf in 0.1 mL CO on days 1-7 and 0.1 mL 10% NsO in CO on days 8-14]. All the animals were sacrificed on day 15 to obtain the kidneys for histological examination. The results revealed, in the Bf5+CO group, a complete obliteration of some of the juxtamedullary glomeruli and, in the Bf2.5+CO and Bf5+CO groups, juxtamedullary glomeruli were contorted and showed moderate to extreme swelling with Bowman's capsule endothelial cell damage and endothelial intracellular oedema. Glomerular fibrosis, with just a few podocytes and multiple intrarenal haemorrhages, was also obvious in the juxtamedullary area. A general glomerular swelling was shown by a significant increase (p <= 0.05) in the mean cross-sectional area (CSA) of these glomeruli in the Bf2.5+CO group (3,095.4 +/- 102.1 mu(2)) compared to the CO group (2,722.7 +/- 112.1 mu(2)). The proximal and distal tubules showed considerable hypertrophy in terms of the relative mean CSAs of these tubules in the Bf2.5+CO and Bf5+CO groups as compared to the other four groups. The mean luminal space of the proximal tubules was significantly decreased (p <= 0.05) in the Bf2.5+CO group (16.9 +/- 1.3 mu(2)) and the Bf5+CO group (11.3 +/- 0.5 mu(2)) as compared to the other four groups (CO: 22.4 +/- 1.9 mu(2) ; NsO: 27.1 +/- 1 mu(2) ; Bf2.5+NsO: 31.3 +/- 1.5 mu(2), and Bf5+NsO: 25.4 +/- 0.4 mu(2)). The mean luminal CSAs of the distal nephronal tubules also showed a similar significant decline in the Bf2.5+CO and Bf5+CO groups compared to the rest of the groups. In the same manner, the mean count of the luminal endothelial cells of the proximal tubules showed a significant decline (pA.05) in the Bf2.5+CO (8.51 +/- 0.44) and Bf5+CO (8.18 +/- 0.55) groups compared to the other groups (CO: 9.81 +/- 0.41; NsO: 10.26 +/- 0.43; Bf2.5+NsO: 10.05 +/- 0.59, and Bf5+NsO: 9.58 +/- 0.42). A similar pattern of variations in the mean count of the lumina! endothelial cells was also observed in the distal nephronal tubules. The results indicate that short term low dose intra-gastric Bf exposure in mice has a nephrotoxic capacity and that NsO can potentially have a nephroprotective role and help in ameliorating the nephronal and glomerular pathologies induced by Bf exposure.

Automated summary

This study examined the potential of NsO to ameliorate renal histopathologies induced by Bf exposure in mice and found that NsO could potentially have a nephroprotective role.