Abstract
Background: Lead is a well-known omnipresent environmental toxin that is harmful to almost any system of the body. Kidneys being the major site of excretion, are very susceptible to its toxic effects. The damage usually involves the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs) and glomeruli, mainly because of the oxidative stress induced by lead. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), being known to have natural anti-oxidative properties, was used in this study to see whether it ameliorates the lead-induced nephrotoxic effects of not.
 Methodology: Twenty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four equal groups. Group A was kept as control and given nothing, Group B was given 8 mg/kg body weight lead acetate intraperitoneally, Group C was given EGb 761 100 mg/kg body weight orally and Group D received both lead acetate as well as EGb 761 simultaneously in the above-mentioned doses. The treatment continued daily for 42 days, after which the rats were sacrificed and histomorphological and immunohistochemical parameters were studied from the extracted kidneys.
 Results: Lead-induced histomorphological changes, including widened PCTs, contracted glomeruli, decreased and pyknotic nuclei and widened urinary spaces, were all reverted to near control in Group D animals. EGb 761 itself did not produce changes in Group C rats except that expression of laminin was marginally decreased. Overall, the laminin expression was not much affected in any of the groups.
 Conclusion: The present study suggests an ameliorating effect of EGb 761 on lead-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. At the same time, other major paralogues of laminin need to be incorporated into the study to see the specific paralogue which is affected in lead-induced nephrotoxicity.
Highlights
Lead is a pervasive toxic metal that is one of the major environmental pollutants
One of the most important factors in producing lead toxicity is its competitive behavior with calcium, which is an important constituent of a battery of enzymes5. lead-induced reduction in alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and different types of ATPases in the proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs) of kidneys results in decreased absorptive and secretory functions of PCTs, adding to the deterioration in the histomorphometric parameters[6]
Experimental Setup Twenty male Wistar albino rats weighing 250-300 gm were obtained from the Department of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences were recruited in the study and divided into four groups, A, B, C and D
Summary
Lead is a pervasive toxic metal that is one of the major environmental pollutants. Globally, in the last five millennia, about 300 metric tons of lead has been added to the environment, mostly during the last 500 years[1]. The lead is mainly incorporated in animals, including humans, through gastrointestinal and pulmonary tracts[3] As a toxin, it can alter the anatomy and physiology of several systems of the body. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), being known to have natural anti-oxidative properties, was used in this study to see whether it ameliorates the lead-induced nephrotoxic effects of not. Results: Lead-induced histomorphological changes, including widened PCTs, contracted glomeruli, decreased and pyknotic nuclei and widened urinary spaces, were all reverted to near control in Group D animals. Conclusion: The present study suggests an ameliorating effect of EGb 761 on lead-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. At the same time other major paralogues of laminin need to be incorporated into the study to see the specific paralogue which is affected in lead-induced nephrotoxicity
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