الفهرس 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 140 |  |  |
| | | from | 140 | | |
Abstract
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Ginger is the root of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, which is widely used in the world as one of the important spice and traditional herbs. It has been reported that ginger or its extracts present some pharmacological activities including anti-tumor, anti-emesis, anti-inflammation, analgesic effect and anti-oxidation.
N-acetylcysteine has been routinely used for the treatment of paracetamol intoxication, in preventing radiographic contrast-induced nephropathy and as a mucolytic agent , in ophthalmic preparations to treat dry eyes and anti-oxidation.
The present work was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of ginger and N-acetylcystiene on acute tubular necrosis induced by glycerol.
Sixty adult male albino rats, 180-200 gm in weight were utilized in this study and were divided into five groups, each comprised twelve rats.
Group I:
Control group.
Group II:
Each rat was given glycerol at a single dose of (8 ml/kg/50%) intramuscularly, distributed equally in both hind limbs.
Group III:
Each rat was given an oral daily dose of ginger extract (100 mg/kg/day) for two weeks before glycerol injection.
Group IV:
Each rat was an oral daily dose of N-acetylcysteine (10 mg/kg/day) for two weeks before glycerol injection .
Group V:
Each rat was given N-acetylcysteine and ginger extract for two weeks before glycerol injection.
After 24 hours from the dose of glycerol, the rats of all groups were sacrificed; blood samples and kidney specimens were taken.
Blood samples were obtained for measurement of serum levels of urea and creatinine.
Kidney specimens processed for histological staining (H&E), PAS reaction, Immunohistochemistry of caspase-3 and gene expression study of CAT and GPx genes expression.
The levels of serum creatinine and urea were highly elevated in the glycerol group (affected group). Administration of ginger extract and N-acetylcystiene separately or combined before glycerol challenge significantly lowered the elevated levels of serum creatinine and urea compared to the affected group
Light microscopic examination of renal cortex obtained from group I showed normal histological structure of both renal corpuscles and tubules; proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT), PAS stained sections showed strong positive staining and caspase 3 staining showed negative reaction.
Light microscopic examination of renal cortex obtained from group II showed histological changes in the form of vacuolations with dilatation in the renal tubules and presence of cellular debris in the tubular lumen. PAS stained sections showed faint staining and caspase 3 staining showed positive reaction. CAT and GPx genes expression was decreased.
Examination of specimens obtained from group III , IV and V showed marked improvement and reduction in histological changes. This improvement appeared in the form of reduction of vacuolation and dilatation, retaining borders of tubular cells by PAS light microscopic examination and decreased apoptosis in caspase- 3 light microscopic examination. CAT and GPx genes expression was increased with results of group V better than groups III and IV.
Conclusion:
In the present study administration of oral ginger extract and N-acetylcystiene separately and combined prior to glycerol induced injury had prophylactic role in ARF and this was by their antioxidant effects through increased antioxidant genes expression . Also the combination of both had synergistic effect. Further studies are needed to determine if there is a therapeutic role of Ginger extract and N-acetylcystiene in ARF.