Nephroprotection of p-coumaric acid against sublethal dose of carbon tetrachloride in Wistar rats: histological evidence

Abstract

In Mexico, chronic kidney disease is a public health problem, when is diagnosed in advanced stages, the only treatment options are dialysis, hemodialysis or organ transplantation, however, the health system does not have the economic capacity or the infrastructure to fully cover these treatments. Therefore, the objective of this research work was to evaluate the activity of the p-coumaric acid (pCA) as a possible nephroprotective agent against toxic carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced kidney damage in male Wistar rats. Renal parenchyma was evaluated using two stains, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid with Schiff's reagent (PAS). The administration of CCl4 (4 g/kg, p.o., one dose) induced tubular necrosis and glomerular rupture within 24 h, with loss of microvilli and basement membranes, with widening of the lumen of the distal and proximal tubules. On the other hand, pCA (100 mg/kg, p.o., administered 24 h and 1 h before CCl4 and 1 h after this toxic agent) showed nephroprotective action by reducing the presence of these morphological changes. Our results suggest for the first time that pCA, when administered preventively, slows the deterioration of renal structure induced by acute exposure to a sublethal dose of CCl4.