The effect of protocatechuic acid on nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin in rats

Gentamicin (GM) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic widely used in the treatment of gram-negative infections. It is known that oxidative stress plays an important role in gentamicin nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the possible protective effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA), which is reported to have antioxidant properties, on GM-induced nephrotoxicity. For this purpose, 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control (Physiological saline orally), PCA (20 mg/kg orally), GM (80 mg/kg/day/i.p), GM + PCA (GM 80 mg/kg/day/i.p and 20 mg/kg PCA orally). Trial period was eight days. Blood samples were taken for biochemical, kidneys were removed for immunohistochemistry and histopathological evaluations. Serum urea, creatinine, Na, K, Cl analyzes of the rats were performed in an autoanalyzer, and malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) analyzes were performed in ELISA. While urea (p < 0.001), creatinine (p < 0.001), MDA (p < 0.05) and AOPP (p < 0.05) levels decreased in the GM + PCA group compared to the GM group, the GSH level (p < 0.05) and GPx activity (p < 0.05) levels increased. In conclusion; in GM-induced nephrotoxicity, PCA prevented lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, increased GSH level and GPx activity, and according to histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, it prevented necrosis in tubular epithelium, atrophy in glomerulus and decreased 8-OHdG expression in kidney cells. With this study, it was emphasized once again that PCA is a good antioxidant agent and it can be said that PCA has a protective effect in nephrotoxicity induced by GM.