The effect of alpha lipoic acid on rat kidneys in methotrexate induced oxidative injury

T. Çakır, C. Polat, A. Baştürk, M. Gül, A. Aslaner, H. Durgut, A.Ö. Şehirli, A. Aykaç, L. Bahar, M.Z. Sabuncuoglu

Department of General Surgery, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. tugrul-cakir@hotmail.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on methotrexate (MTX) induced kidney injury in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two rats were equally divided into four groups; control, ALA, MTX and MTX with ALA groups. A single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) was administered to make kidney injury to groups 3 and 4, intraperitoneally. The ALA was administered intraperitonealy in groups 2 and 4 and the other groups received saline injection for five days. On the sixth day the blood samples and kidney tissues were obtained for the measurement of TNF-α, IL-1β, malondialdehyde, glutathione, myeloperoxidase and sodium potassium-adenosine triphosphatase levels and histological examination.

RESULTS: Administration of MTX caused a decrease in tissue GSH, and Na+, K+-ATPase activity significantly. A significant increase in tissue MDA and MPO activities were also seen. The pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-β) were increased in the MTX group significantly. ALA treatment reversed all biochemical indices as well as histopathological alterations induced by MTX administration.

CONCLUSIONS: MTX made oxidative damage on kidneys of rat and it was partially prevented by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ALA treatment.

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