Effect of Urtica dioica Seed Extract on Aquaporin 1 and 7, Caspase-3 and Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in Diethylnitrosamine-induced Kidney Damage in Rats

Abstract

Diethylnitrosamine (DENA) is known to have a carcinogenic effect on the liver by stimulating oxid ative stress and inflammation. There are few studies on the negative effects of DENA on kidney tissue, and the therapeutic effect of Urtica dioica Seed Extract (UDSE) against the negative effects of DENA is investigated for the first time in this study. Th is study investigated the protective effect of UDSE on kidney tissues of rats administered DENA. The rats were divided into four groups (n=8): control, UDSE (1 mL/kg/daily for 16 weeks), DENA (200 mg/kg/first day), DENA+UDSE (200 mg/kg/first-day single dose, and 1 mL/kg/daily for 16 weeks). At the end of the experiment, blood and kidney tissues were taken for biochemical and pathological analysis. DENA administration has been shown to increase oxidative stress in the kidneys and reduce antioxidant levels. Moreover, compared to the DENA group, DENA decreased the level of aquaporin (AQP)-1 in kidney tissue, while UDSE treatment increased both AQP-1 levels in kidney tissue and AQP-1 and 7 levels in the serum samples. Histopathological examination of the kidney revealed significant coagulation necrosis, especially in proximal tubular epithelial cells, hyperemia in capillaries, mononuclear cell infiltration between tubular area s, atrophy in the glomerular cluster, and adhesions with Bowman's capsule. In addition, there was a decrease in both caspase-3 (immunohistochemically) expression and TOS levels in the DENA+UDSE group compared to the DENA group, while an increase was seen in antioxidant levels. These findings indicated that UDSE may be an essential therapeutic agent against DENA-induced kidney injury. © 2024, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.