EJMS

Abstract

Ginger is used to relief the symptoms of gastrointestinal upsets associated with motion sickness, surgery and pregnancy. It has anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic and anti-hepatic toxicity. Cyclosporine has immune-suppressive properties and used in treatment of diseases with auto immune mechanisms. The most serious side effect of cyclosporine is its hepatotoxicity and the significant rise in serum creatinine. This renal affection includes both glomerular and tubular damage with renal damage. Aim of work: The aim of this work was to find out the possible protective role of Ginger in renal protection against cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. Materials and methods: Sixty male albino rats were used and divided into three groups; Group I (control): including 20 rats given olive oil in a dose of 0.5 ml once every day for 35 days as subcutaneous injection, Group II: including 20 rats injected subcutaneously daily for 35 days by cyclosporine (15mg /kg body weight) and Group III: including 20 rats given the same dose of cyclosporine as in group II followed by 1ml of final aqueous extract of ginger (24 mg/ml) once daily for 35 days. The animals were anaesthetized, the abdomen was incised and the extracted kidneys were processed for both light and electron microscopic study. Results: Cyclosporine produced atrophy and degeneration of the glomeruli. The glomeruli showed marked decrease in the cellularity of blood capillaries, rupture of the renal capillaries and extravasations of blood with dilatation of the bowman's space. It produced also degeneration and atrophy of the renal convoluted tubules with marked disarrangement of their cells and vacuolations in their cytoplasm. The renal cortex showed areas of focal thickening of the glomerular basement and obliterated endothelial fenestrations and focal foot processes fusion of podocytes. The mitochondria appeared swollen and the brush border of epithelial cells was markedly lost and destructed Ginger treatment with Cyclosporine produced recovery of the glomeruli and renal tubules. The renal cortex of this group showed normal glomerular structure, the podocytes appeared normal with their processes intact and closely adherent to the glomerular capillaries with the filtration sites appearing normal with fenestrated endothelial lining. Conclusion: In conclusion, results of this study revealed the injurious effect of cyclosporine on renal cortex. Co-administration of ginger during cyclosporine treatment can ameliorate the histological changes induced by cyclosporine. These findings may be of major importance to introduce a safe, inexpensive and feasible method for attenuation of cyclosporine induced nephrotoxicity.