Investigation of the protective effect of curcumin in a rabbit model of contrast-induced nephropathy

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of curcumin on contrast nephropathy in rabbits.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 14 adult, 2.5-3 kg white male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. Goups consisted of the control group (n=2) consisted of the contrast-induced nephropathy group (n=6) and the Curcumin group (n=6). In the curcumin group, curcumin was administered via gastric gavage at a dose of 500 mg/kg one day before and on the day of contrast agent administration. Iopromide was injected intravenously at a dose of 8 g/kg via a catheter in the V. auricularis marginalis over a period of 30 minutes at a slow rate to induce contrast nephropathy. Myeloperoxidase was 4,899 ± 0,424 ng/ml at hour 0 in the contrast-induced nephropathy group and a significant increase was observed after 48 hours (7.467 ± 0.353 ng/mL) (p=0.002). In the contrast-induced nephropathy group, vacuolization of the glomeruli, vacuolar degeneration of the tubular epithelial cells, hyaline casts, necrotic tubular epithelial cells in the tubules was statistically higher compared to the curcumin groups (P=0.000). Based upon these results, it was concluded that curcumin, which is a strong antioxidant, had a significant protective effect against contrast-induced nephropathy after 24 and 48 hours. Therefore, the administration of curcumin before the contrast material administration may be beneficial to prevent nephropathy in selected cases