PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF VERAPAMIL AGAINST HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS

In order to evaluate the protective effect of verapamil against hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) nephrotoxicity, 30 adult Wistar albino rats were divided into five equal groups, A, B, C, D and E and were given intra-peritonially corn oil (I ml/kg; control), HCBD (50 mg/kg), verapamil (50 μg/kg) with HCBD (50 mg/kg), verapamil (100 μg/kg) with HCBD (50 mg/kg) and verapamil (100 μg/kg) with HCBD (100 mg/kg), respectively. Verapamil was given one hour before HCBD treatment. All animals were killed after 24 hours. Serum concentrations of urea and creatinine were higher (P 0.05) in HCBD-treated rats compared with the controls, as well as verapamil treated groups. Histopathological examination of kidneys showed substantial necrosis in straight portion of the proximal tubules in HCBD treated rats. In verapamiltreated groups, kidneys appeared normal. It was concluded that verapamil can protect kidneys against toxic effects of HCBD in rats.