ABSTRACT

 Evidences have implicated free radicals or reactive oxygen species in mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity. Diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, a simple and stable organoselenium compound, has been proposed as a good candidate for pharmacological and therapeutic purposes. This particular study was designed to investigate the protective effect of (PhSe)2 against mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity.

 In this study, 44 female Wistar rats with weights ranging from 125g and 180g were randomly divided into 5 groups. Control rats in groups 1 and 2 were administered normal saline and/or corn oil. Group 3 animals were treated with (PhSe)2 alone while those in Groups 4 and 5 were challenged with HgCl2. Group 5 rats were additionally co-treated with (PhSe)2. Mercuric chloride and (PhSe)2  were given orally at a specific dose of 5 mg/kg/day. Integrity of kidney was assessed by urea and creatinine levels and oxidative stress indices were also determined. Results were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with significance level set at p<0.05.

Rats exposed to HgCl2 showed no significant decrease in body or organ (kidney) weight when compared with the control. There was a significant increase in the level of urea in the plasma of rat exposed to HgCl2 when compared with the controls while the level of creatinine remained unaffected. The group treated with (PhSe)2 alone also had elevated urea level. However  co-treatment of HgCl2 and (PhSe)2 resulted in enhanced kidney function. Moreover, there was also significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reduced Glutathione (GSH) and activities of catalase,Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), Glutathione-S-transferase (GST), myeloperoxidase (MPO) on exposure to HgCl2. These were markedly reversed by the administration of the organoselenium compounds. 

The result of this study indicates that DPDS may be effective in attenuating HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity.