Aim. In a modern pharmacotherapy aminoglycoside antibiotics take a leading position in a complex therapy of bacterial infections. At the same time they are among the major causes of drug- induced toxic nephropathies, which results in a restriction of their use in clinical practice. Taurine is a sulphur amino acid which is directly involved in a regulation of various physiological processes in the organism, and possesses antitoxic, antioxidant, and neuromodulatory effects.
The purpose — to study and compare a nephroprotective potential of Taurine and Canephron under conditions of gentamicin nephropathy development in rats.
Materials and methods. Research was conducted on 28 mature non-linear white rats weighting 130–180 g, randomly divided into 4 groups (n=7): I group — intact control, II group — gentamicin nephropathy (injection of 4% Gentamicin sulphate solution at a dose of 80 mg/kg for 6 days), rats of III group were daily administered with Taurine (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) at a dose of 100 mg/kg, animals of IV group were daily injected with Canephron (Bionorica, Germany) at a dose of 27 mg/kg. Functional state and histological changes in kidneys was estimated on the 7th day.
Results. Use of both drugs significantly improved kidney function of rats: an increase in diuresis was accompanied with a restoration of GFR, which was increased 2.9 times in group of Taurine, and 2.1 times — in Canephron group. A decrease in retention azotemia and proteinuria (3.6 times in Taurine, and 1.9 times — in Canepron group) was observed. Both drugs showed a positive effect on an ion-regulatory kidney function, which is confirmed by a decrease of sodium urine excretion and maintenance of proximal and distal sodium transport. Histological examination of kidneys has shown that in Taurine group a number of epitheliocytes with dystrophic changes was 88.3%, but there weren’t any necrotic cells. In Canephron group there was a necrosis of 8.1% cells, the signs of dystrophy in a form of hydropic vacuolization were found in 11.8% of proximal tubular epitheliocytes.
Conclusion. Both Taurine and Canephron produce a nephroprotective effect under the conditions of gentamicin nephropathy. Effect of Taurine significantly exceeds that of Canephron by the majority of indices. Obtained results may serve as a background for the further study of Taurine effects under conditions of acute kidney injury of different etiology.