Renal histoarchitectural changes in nevirapine therapy: possible role of kolaviron and vitamin C in an experimental animal model.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of literature regarding the nephrotoxicity of antiretroviral drugs and its interaction with plant-based adjuvants. This study investigates the attenuating effect of kolaviron in nevirapine-therapy on the histological structure of the kidneys of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attenuating influence of anti-oxidant status of kolaviron on the kidneys of experimental animals following nevirapine administration.

METHODS: Forty eight pathogen-free adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. The animals were divided into 8 groups (A-H) with 6 animals in each group. Group A was given normal saline as the control; group B was given nevirapine; group C was given kolaviron; group D was given vitamin C; group E was given nevirapine and kolaviron; group F was given nevirapine and vitamin C; Group G was given nevirapine and kolaviron (kolaviron withdrawn after day 28) and group H was given corn oil. The experiment lasted 56 days after which the animals were sacrificed, blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture for serum analysis and the kidneys were harvested and prepared for H& E histological examination.

RESULTS: Nevirapine caused histoarchitectural damage in the glomerular apparatus with resultant increase in kidney/body weight ratio (p<0.001). Adjuvant treatment with kolaviron attenuated these nephrotoxic effects. Serum anti-oxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activities were significantly reduced in kolaviron and vitamin C treated animals, whereas in the nevirapine group these parameters were significantly elevated (P<0.05). However, co-administration of nevirapine and vitamin C did not improve the histoarchitecture of the kidney.

CONCLUSION: Adjuvant treatment with kolaviron (an anti-oxidant) for 56 days appears to attenuate the nephrotoxicity of nevirapine in this model.