Protective effect of trans-resveratrol on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been involved in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction observed after gentamicin treatment. trans-Resveratrol (TR), a natural hydroxystilbene, has been identified to be a potent inhibitor of ROS production. The aim of this work has been to study whether TR has a protective effect on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo and the effect of TR on lipid peroxidation and the oxidative stress induced by gentamicin. Animals that received a daily intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (100 mg/kg body weight) showed lower GFR and renal blood flow (RBF) and higher urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) than control rats. Rats receiving TR together with gentamicin showed higher GFR and RBF and lower NAG urinary excretion than rats receiving gentamicin alone. Moreover, renal lipid peroxidation increased in rats receiving gentamicin alone, and this increase was prevented by the administration of TR. The concentration in plasma of antioxidants was higher in the group that received TR with gentamicin than in the gentamicin and control groups. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were higher in rats treated with gentamicin than in control rats and were reduced by the treatment with TR. This study demonstrates an improvement in renal function in response to the administration of TR in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. At least a part of this effect of TR could be based on its antioxidant activity.