Introduction: Ciprofloxacin (CPFX) is a broad spectrum antibiotic used for treatment of many infections. Olive oil is rich in compounds that have strong antioxidant activity.
Aim: To assess CPFX-induced renal cortical structural changes in albino rats and to evaluate whether or not olive oil could attenuate such changes.
Materials and Methods: Thirty two male albino rats were used and divided into 4 groups. Control group received distilled water, OO group received olive oil (5ml/kg/day), CPFX group received CPFX (20 mg/kg/day) and CPFX+OO group received both CPFX and olive oil as the previous groups. All medications were continued for 14 days. Renal cortex specimens were processed for light and electron microscopy. Morphometric study and statistical analysis for the results were also performed.
Results: CPFX group revealed irregularity and shrinkage of renal corpuscles with loss of vascular component and capsular space obliteration. The mesangial cells were significantly increased. The renal tubules showed dilatation with significant increase in proximal convoluted tubules diameter, marked degeneration, significant increase in the darkly stained nuclei of their lining cells and intraluminal casts. Congested glomerular capillaries and peritubular blood vessels were also observed. Ultrastructurally, there were thickening of glomerular basement membrane, fusion of glomerular capillary endothelium and podocyte pedicles. Cytoplasmic empty areas and vacuolations, swollen mitochondria, nuclear changes were also found in the tubules. CPFX + OO group showed less structural changes.
Conclusion: Olive oil has ameliorating effect on ciprofloxacin-induced renal cortical toxicity.