Background: Diethanolamine (DEA) is an organic agent, used in cosmetic preparations and has been shown to cause degenerative changes in the kidney. Alfa lipoic acid (ALA) is a disulfide natural compound with established antioxidant effects.
Aim of the work: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective role of ALA on the renal histological structure of DEA-treated rats.
Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were equally classified into three groups: a control group receiving distilled water, DEA-treated group receiving DEA (425mg/kg/b.w) orally six days/week for two weeks and DEA+ALA -treated group receiving ALA(100 mg/kg/b.w.) simultaneously with the same dose of DEA for the same duration. The specimens were obtained from the kidney and processed for histological and immunohistochemical examination. Morphometric studies and statistical analysis were performed.
Results: Light microscopic examination of DEA-treated rats showed disturbed renal architecture, increased glomerular size, widened Bowman's space and cell debris in the lumen of the tubules. Congested interstitial blood capillaries and loss of the brush border in some proximal convoluted epithelial cells were also noticed. Ultrastructural examination following DEA administration showed thickened glomerular basement membrane and electron-dense podocytes with fusion of their feet-processes. The tubular lining cells showed electron-dense mitochondria with distorted cristae and loss of cytoplasmic organelles and nuclear heterochromatin. Moreover, DEA administration induced intense cytoplasmic expression of caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The administration of ALA in DEA-treated rats significantly improved the histological and immunohistochemical changes in renal corpuscles and proximal and distal convoluted tubules, compared to DEA-treated rats.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that ALA protects the kidney against the damaging effects induced by DEA.