Effects of royal jelly on genotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by valproic acid in albino mice

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting at least 50 million people worldwide. Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used antiepileptic medication for both generalized and partial seizures of epilepsy. The objective of the study was to investigate the anti-mutagenic and anti-histopathologic effects of royal jelly (RJ) on VPA-induced genotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male albino mice (Mus musculus). 80 Mice were used for 21 days; they were divided into eight groups, (G1) served as normal control group, G2 received VPA (100 mg/kg) and (G3–G5) received RJ at doses 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg respectively. While (G6–G8) were administrated RJ simultaneously with VPA. In RJ treated mice at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, the kidney sections showed normal histological structure with non significant changes in chromosomal aberrations (CA) and mitotic index (MI), while RJ at dose of 200 mg/kg showed mild inflammatory cells infiltration and hyperemic glomeruli but not highly significant changes in CA and MI. The cortex of VPA treated mice revealed congested glomeruli with inflammatory cells infiltration, and marked degeneration of almost structures of the glomeruli including some vacuoles in mesangial cells with dark mesangial substances on the ultrastructure level. Some proximal tubules showed degeneration of microvilli on the apical parts of some cells. Cells of the distal tubules attained obliterated lumen and vacuolated lining epithelium. The results also revealed that valproic acid induced a high frequency of CA in bone marrow cells of mice and MI was significantly decreased indicating bone marrow cytotoxicity. The treatment of mice with RJ at doses 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 days simultaneously with VPA resulted in abating the histological alterations in renal tissues with significant reduction in chromosomal aberrations, for doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, and elevation in mitotic index (P < 0.05). RJ at doses 50 and 100 mg/kg appeared more potent in exerting the ameliorative effect.

Keywords

• Valporic acid
• Royal jelly
• Kidney
• Ultrastructural
• Chromosomal aberrations
• Mice