Backgroung: Gibberellic acid (GA3) is considered one of the plant growth regulators (PGRs), utilized to increase the production, size and availability of the plants all the year. however, it should be utilized guardedly to reduce its prospective toxicity on body organs involving the kidney. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is present naturally in the body as a nutrient. It occurs also in multiple foods and has an antioxidant action, which inhibits cell damage and has an important role in metabolism.
Objective: The target of this work is to estimate the impact of GA3on the rat's renal cortex and the potential protective effect of CoQ10.
Materials and Methods: Forty male albino rats were used in the current work. The animals were divided into control group, CoQ10treated group, GA3 treated group and finally, CoQ10and GA3 treated group. After 4 weeks, urea and creatinine levels were measured in the blood and kidney tissues were processed for biochemical, light and electron microscopic studies.
Results: GA3 treated group revealed marked glomerular and tubular damage. Thickened glomerular basement membrane, glomerular atrophy and increased tubular diameter were evident. There were some tubular cells with cytoplasmic vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei. Hyalinization of the lumen of some renal tubules was noticed. The interstitium revealed heavy cellular infiltration and blood congestion. Biochemical study, revealed a marked increase in plasma levels of urea and creatinine, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and a marked decrease in the catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels compared to control group. These changes were ameliorated by CoQ10.
Conclusion: Administration of CoQ10 protect against GA3 induced renal damage.