Background: The use of indomethacin, as one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in different medical conditions, is often accompanied by harmful effects on the kidney.
Aim of the work: evaluating the potential protective role of the Aloe Vera (AV) intake against the deleterious effects of indomethacin on the adult albino rats' renal cortex structure, with special reference to the glomerular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and desmin immunohistochemical expression.
Material and methods: Forty five adult albino rats are distributed into 4 groups; group I (control), n=15; group II is given AV orally 200 mg/kg BW twice daily; group III is given indomethacin subcutaneously 1mg/Kg BW twice daily; group IV is given indomethacin subcutaneously concurrently with AV orally. Serum creatinine (SC) is measured. After four weeks, paraffin sections of the kidneys are prepared. Some sections are stained with H&E, while others are immuno-stained for eNOS and desmin. Statistical analysis is performed.
Results: Histological examination of group III shows congested glomeruli with either partial obliteration or apparent widening of Bowman's space. There is interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrate and hemorrhage. Tubular cells show cytoplasmic vacuolation with pyknotic nuclei. There is highly statistical significant decrease and increase of eNOS and desmin immunoreactivity respectively compared to control. Group IV displayed apparently similar histological architecture of most of the glomeruli and convoluted tubules compared to the control group. SC level showed statistically high significant decrease compared to group III.
Conclusion: Aloe vera administration revealed a partial protective effect on the renal cortical injury produced by indomethacin.