Coadministration of retinoic acid and atorvastatin mitigates highfat diet induced renal damage in rats

Obesity causes many problems such as cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of retinoic acid and atorvastatin coadministration in kidneys protection against highfat diet induced damage. Twentyfive male Wistar rats (200.00 ± 20.00 g) were divided into five groups: 1) Control (standard diet), 2) Highfat diet (cholesterol 1.00%, 75 days), 3) Highfat diet + atorvastatin (20.00 mg kg1 per day, orally, on the 30th day, for 45 consecutive days), 4) Highfat diet + retinoic acid (5 mg kg1per day, orally, on the 30th day, for 45 consecutive days), and 5) High fat diet + atorvastatin and retinoic acid. At the end, blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological analyses. The results showed that atorvastatin and retinoic acid alone and in combination decreased cholesterol and lowdensity lipoprotein and increased highdensity lipoprotein in highfat diet. Also, atorvastatin – caused total antioxidant capacity increase and protein carbonyl content decrease the in the renal tissue. Atorvastatin also prevented highfat dietinduced renal histological injury. Treatment with atorvastatin significantly mitigates highfat dietinduced renal changes probably due to its potent antioxidant and lipidlowering effects. The effect of retinoic acid in renal protection in a highfat diet is far less than that of atorvastatin. The protective effect of the combination of these two agents in the highfat diet on the kidneys seems to be due to the effect of atorvastatin.