Protective Effects of Sulfur Dioxide on Acute Renal Failure in Male Rats

Gentamicin-induced acute renal failure (ARF) has been commonly used as a suitable animal model to research acute kidney failure in an experimental study. The sulfur dioxide (SO2), a sulfur-containing gas that considered a common air pollutant, has antioxidant effects in mammals. In this study for reducing the functional and tissue damage we use SO2 as an antioxidant agent.

Rats (n=52) were randomly assigned to four groups: 1- Sham group, 2- Gentamicin (GM) group (100 mg/kg, i.p) 3- GM + SO2 group (5 μg/kg i.p) and 4- GM + SO2 group (10 μg/kg i.p). 24-h urine samples, blood and renal tissues were collected in day eighth.

Gentamicin injection led to increase in fractional excretion of Na and K, Plasma BUN and Cr and decrease in Urine flow rate and Cr clearance compared with sham group. In addition, renal tissue MDA was increased and a Glutathione (GSH) level was decreased. SO2 injection with dose of 5 μg/kg had no statistically significant changes in BUN, fractional excretion of Na and MDA. In this group Cr and fractional excretion of K were decreased and Urine flow rate, Cr clearance and GSH were increased compared with GM group. SO2 injection with dose of 5 μg/kg caused increase in Urine flow rate, Cr clearance and renal tissue GSH and decrease in BUN, Cr, fractional excretion of K and Na and renal tissue MDA in contrast with GM group. Treatment with SO2 (5 and 10 μg/kg) significantly reduces apoptosis cell death in renal tissues compared to the GM group.

SO2 partly protected the kidneys from gentamicin induced acute kidney injury.