Sıçanlarda Poliklorlu Bifenil (Aroklor 1254) ile Oluşturulan Nefrotoksisite Üzerine Alfa Lipoik Asitin Etkisi

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic compounds that are used in the production of many industrial products and lead to environmental pollution. PCBs are taken into the body by consuming contaminated foods and cause harmful effects in the organism. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a substance that has strong antioxidant properties. It can be synthesized in the body and is also found in foods such as broccoli, spinach, and pea, too. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the changes in the kidneys of rats exposed to PCB (Aroclor 1254) and to reveal the effects of ALA on these changes. Rats were randomly divided into four groups as control, ALA, PCB and ALA+PCB. The applications of ALA and PCB continued for thirty days. At the end of the experiment, kidney samples were taken from the animals. Crossmon’s triple staining method was applied to kidney sections for histopathological and histomorphometric examinations. In addition, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction was examined in kidney tissue histochemically. Histopathologically, it was determined that glomerular degeneration and connective tissue densities in the kidney significantly increased in the PCB group compared to the control group. Besides, it was found that glomerular degeneration intensity significantly decreased in the ALA+PCB group compared to the PCB group. In terms of histomorphometric, it was detected that the diameters of the renal corpuscle, proximal tubule, ascending limb of Henle’s loop and collecting duct in the kidney significantly decreased in the PCB group compared to the control group, and they significantly increased in the ALA+PCB group compared to the PCB group. Histochemically, it was observed that density of glomerular mesangial matrix and glycogen density in the proximal tubule epithelium in the kidney significantly increased in the PCB group compared to the control group and they significantly decreased in the ALA+PCB group compared to the PCB group. As a result, PCB may adversely affect renal functions by causing disorders in kidney histology. In addition, the use of ALA against PCB exposure may contribute to the preservation of kidney tissue.