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The effects of valproic
acid on renal corpuscle of pregnant rats and protective role
of folic acid and vitamin E
Ayfer Aktaş*, Yusuf Nergız, Murat Akkuş and Yasemin Nasır
Medical
Faculty, Departments of Histology and Embryology, Dicle
University, 21280 Diyarbakır, Turkey.
*Corresponding author E-mail:
aaktas@dicle.edu.tr.
Abbreviations:
SV, Sodium valproate; VPA, valproic acid;
FA, folic acid; Vit E, vitamin E; NTDs,
neural tube defects.
Accepted
18 June, 2010 |
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We aimed to investigate the potential harmful effects of
valproic acid (VPA), a widely used anticonvulsant in child
delivery, and the protective effects of vitamin E (Vit E)
and folic acid (FA) on kidney. Sodium valproate (400 mg/kg),
folic acid (400 mg/kg) and vitamin E (250 mg/kg) were
administered to rats on each of gestation days, 8 th,
9 th, and 10 th. The rats were
sacrificed on the 20 th day of pregnancy. With
thin sections of kidney biopsies, they were stained with
uranyl acetate-lead citrate and examined under transmission
electron microscope. The
animals
were divided into four groups randomly:
control, VPA, VPA+FA and VPA+Vit E groups. In each group,
drug procedure, surgical procedure and histological methods
were performed. The histopathological findings of control
group was normal. In VPA group, it showed degenerative
changes especially in renal glomerular basal membrane and
foot process. Both VPA+FA and VPA+Vit E groups exhibited
similar ultrastructural changes and had almost the normal
structure. Administration of single doses of SV (400 mg/kg)
resulted in degenerative changes on kidney at
ultrastructural level. Administration of FA and Vit E had a
protective effect by preventing the degenerative changes to
a certain degree. The aim of the present study is to examine
histopathologic changes which may occur in a high risk
experimental model after the administration of valproic
acid. In addition, protective roles of the administration of
folic acid and vitamin E are assessed.
Key words:
Folic acid, kidney, rat, valproic acid, vitamin E. |
