Effect of Acacia arabica gum on histochemical changes in the renal cortex of rats exposed to gamma radiation

Abstract

Objective: Lately, gum Arabic (GA) is traditionally used in Middle East countries to ameliorate renal function of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This action is controversial and it is still experimentally under evaluation. We aimed to shed more light on the potential effects of GA against γ-rays-induced nephrotoxicity in irradiated rats. Forty-eight male albino Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control group(C), irradiated groups (R) 5Gy, gum Arabic groups (GA) 25 mg/kg orally administrated for 3 weeks, and GA+R groups, rats were treated orally with 25 mg /kg GA for one week before and three weeks after irradiation (GA+R). The experimental rats were sacrificed after 7 and 21 days of irradiation. Histochemical examination of kidney cortex tissue of R groups showed significantly decreased PAS-positive materials, total protein content, and total DNA content, but it significantly increased amyloid β–protein content relative to the control group. While treatment with GA before and after irradiation showed a non-significant change in PAS-positive materials and the content of total protein, total DNA, and amyloid β–protein throughout the examined kidney cortex. According to the results obtained in the current study using GA as a natural agent showed a strong cytoprotective effect against the histochemical changes due to its radioprotective effect.