Nephro-Protective Effect of Wheat Germ Oil on Gentamicin-Induced Acute Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Albino Rat

Gentamicin (GM) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that possesses a wide range of anti-microbial activity. Currently, uses of gentamicin are narrowed due to it supposedly induces nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the possible nephron-protective effect of wheat germ oil (WGO), and its antioxidant potential against gentamicin-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Forty rats were randomly assigned to four different groups (Ten animals each); Group I was administered normal saline and acts as a control group. Group II was received WGO at a dose of (3 mg/kg by stomach gavage) daily for the 15successive days. Group III was administered gentamicin at the dose of (100 mg/kg i.p.) daily for 10 successive days. Group IV was given WGO as group II and one hour latter rats were treated with gentamicin as in group III. Rats in group III showed significant increases (p≤0.05) in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) as well as renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels together with significant (p≤0.05) reduction in glutathione (GSH) level and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. In rats of group IV, creatinine and BUN levels were significantly (p≤0.05) reduced. Furthermore, renal GSH level and CAT and SOD activities were significantly (p≤0.05) increased in comparison to group III. Histopathological examination revealed variable grades of renal tissue alterations ranged from moderate to severe degrees of glomerular atrophy, vascular congestion, hemorrhage, tubular dilatation, necrosis and hyalinization in group III. In contrast, renal tissue in rats of group IV revealed glomerular cellularity of control group, reduction of tubular injury, and decreasing of collagen deposition. Therefore, WGO can effectively decrease the GM-induced renal injury as monitored by lipid peroxidation and histopathological examination