Pathological Evaluation of Phenobarbital and Atorvastatin Co-Administration on Kidney of Rat

Atorvastatin is a lipid-lowering drug used to treat hyperlipidemia. Phenobarbital is the inductor of cytochrome enzymes. This study examined the interfering effect of simultaneous consumption of these drugs on the biochemical and pathological changes in rat’s kidney. Drugs were administered to 4 groups of Wistar rats (8 per group) for 15 days as follows: normal saline, atorvastatin, atorvastatin phenobarbital and phenobarbital alone. After anesthesia, blood was taken from the heart and serum was removed to measure myoglobin, creatinine, BUN, sodium, potassium and uric acid. After easy kill of rats, kidneys were removed and tissue sections were prepared through the conventional method of pathologic sections preparation and they were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, and pathological changes were examined by light microscopy. The simultaneous use of atorvastatin with phenobarbital significantly increased serum myoglobin of rats compared with control group. Pathological changes in the group receiving atorvastatin and phenobarbital simultaneously was observed with a greater intensity. Phenobarbital can reduce renal toxicity of atorvastatin.