Ameliorative Effect of Propolis Against Thioacetamide Induced Hepatorenal Injury in Adult Male Rats. Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) a Biomarker of Renal Injury

Abstract Background: Thioacetamide (TAA), a known industrial toxic agent, is extensively used in animal studies for induction of hepatic necrosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, also reported to be nephrotoxic through induction of oxidative stress. Propolis, bee glue, is known by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aim of Study: This work aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of propolis on TAA-induced hepatorenal damage and to evaluate the efficacy of Kidney Injury Molecuole-1 (KIM-1) in early detection of renal injury. Material and Methods: This study was performed on 24 adult male albino rats, divided into 3 groups; (I) Control group, (II) TAA-group (TAA was given in a dose of 50mg/kg /day intraperitoneally, 5 days/week for 2 weeks), (III) TAA-propolis treated group (TAA was given in the same way as in TAA-group, propolis was given in a dose of 500mg/kg/day by gavage, 5 days/week for 2 weeks). All studied rats were subjected to determination of initial and final body weight, body weight percent change, absolute and relative liver and kidney weight, as well as assessment of hepatic function by serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transam-inase (AST), renal function by serum urea, creatinine and potassium (K+) level, with determination of renal tissue oxidative stress markers; Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glu-tathione-S-Transferase (GST), inflammatory marker; Mye-loperoxidase (MPO), renal tissue damage marker; Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1). In addition, specimens of liver and kidney were taken and processed for light microscopic studies. Results: TAA induced hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effect that was evident by the significantly increased serum ALT, AST, urea and creatinine, with significant decrease in serum K+ level as well as significantly increased renal tissue MDA, GST, MPO and KIM-1 when compared with control group. Treatment with propolis caused significant reduction in serum ALT, AST, urea and creatinine, with significant elevation in serum K+ as well as significant reduction in renal tissue MDA, GST, MPO and KIM-1 when compared to the TAA group, but still significantly higher compared to controls except for urea. These results were confirmed by the histopathological findings. Conclusion: Propolis could partially ameliorate the TAA induced hepatorenal damage, which might be related to attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, KIM-1 could be beneficial in detection of renal injury.