Ameliorative impact of ezetimibe on gentamicin-induced kidney damage; A histopathological perspective study

Gentamicin, despite its beneficial effects, has significant nephrotoxic effects that are observed in 20% of the patients. Ezetimibe is recognized as an inhibitor of cholesterol absorption.

The present study aimed to investigate the histopathological effects of ezetimibe on gentamicin-induced kidney damage.

Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups and treated as the following; group 1 (normal group), group 2 [gentamicin group, daily 80 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) for seven days], group 3-5 (gentamicin 80 + ezetimibe at doses of 2.5, 12.5, and 37.5 mg/kg, respectively). Kidney sections were examined for histopathological parameters including vacuolization of the tubular renal cells, degeneration, necrosis, flattening of the tubular cells and debris in the tubular lumen.

Gentamicin injection significantly induced histopathological alterations (P< 0.05). Ezetimibe therapy significantly decreased the levels of vacuolization, degeneration, necrosis, flattening of the tubular cells and debris in the nephrotoxic rats (P< 0.05).

The results illustrated that treatment with ezetimibe can improve kidney damage caused by gentamicin injection.