Protective effect of silymarin and vitamin E on gentamicin-induced pathological changes in kidney of dog

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is an important factor for renal failure in dogs. Aminoglycosides including gentamicin could produce nephrotoxicity in dogs. The oxidative stress might be the case. Silymarin (extract seed of silybum marianum) is a potent antioxidant. In present study, the effect of silymarin and vitamin E compared to gentamaicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The study has been conducted on dogs in 5 groups: group 1 has been kept as control and received saline. Gentamicin was injected in other groups once daily for 9 days. Vitamin E and silymarin were given in group 3 and 4 respectively. In group 5, vitamin E and silymarin were co-administrated. Renal tissue was microscopically examined by routine method and Hematoxillin-Eosine color. In histopathological examination of renal tissue, all groups (except group 1) had several changes especially glomerulonephritis; but this abnormality was not seen in group 4. The results showed, the silymarin and vitamin E have similar effect on gentamicin–induced nephrotoxicity in dogs; but in histopathological examination, the silymarin had better effect than vitamin E or their combination.