Background: obesity has emerged as a major global health issue. It is recognized as a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease.
Aim: To determine the effects of a high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF) on the structure of renal cortices of rats and to evaluate the effects of probiotics versus silymarin on the cortices histologically and biochemically.
Materials and methods: Forty albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups; group I (control). The rest of groups received HFHF diet daily for eight weeks then divided into: group II: they were given 1 ml physiological saline daily, group III: they received probiotics daily, and group IV: received silymarin daily, all for further four weeks.
Results: Data showed that feeding HFHF diet significantly altered the structure of renal cortex in the form of cytoplasmic vacuolations, separation of epithelial cells lining the tubules, and subsequent sloughing in tubular lumen. Significant increase in TNF-α expression. Renal interstitium showed cellular infiltration with significant increase in collagen deposition. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis showed significant increase in expression of miR-125b and DRAM1 gene in HFHF fed rats. There was improvement of all histological aspects in probiotics and silymarin treated groups. Both drugs caused significant increase in miR-125b expression and significant decrease in expression of DRAM1.However results were more evident in silymarin treated group.
Conclusion: HFHF diet is accompanied by renal tissues damage. We concluded that both probiotics and silymarin have therapeutic role in ameliorating HFHF-associated renal injury. However, silymarin has better effects on all aspects.