Erdosteine against acetaminophen induced renal toxicity.

Acetaminophen (APAP) induced toxicities have been a major problem in clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate a possible protective role of erdosteine, a mucolytic agent having antioxidant properties via its active metabolites, on APAP induced renal damage in rats. Female Wistar Albino rats were divided into groups including control, erdosteine (150 mg/kg, oral), APAP (1 g/kg, oral) APAP+erdosteine (150 mg/kg, oral) and APAP+erdosteine (300 mg/kg, oral). APAP treatment caused lipid peroxidation as well as high NO level in renal tissue. Also, APAP treated rats had decreased activities of CAT and GSH-Px, but not SOD. In addition, tubular epithelial degeneration, vacuolization and cell desquamation were clearly observed in the APAP treated rats. The cellular debris in the proximal tubules and cortical interstitial congestions were prominent in the kidneys of APAP treated rats. BUN and creatinine levels were increased after APAP administration. All these pathological changes were reversed after erdosteine treatments. Erdosteine treated APAP groups showed milder tubular degeneration, epithelial vacuolization in the proximal tubules, lesser cellular desquamation and better morphology when compared with APAP groups. In conclusion, erdosteine may be a choice of preventive treatment against APAP induced nephrotoxicity.