Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of curcumin intervention on ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into single nephrolithiasis induction group (calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis induced by 1% ethylene glycol drinking), nephrolithiasis induction+curcumin intervention group (1% ethylene glycol drinking+intragastric administration of 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 curcumin), single curcumin group (deionized water drinking+ intragastric administration of 20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 curcumin) and blank control group (deionized water drinking), with 8 rats in each group. Before and after the experiment (4 weeks after treatment), serum and urine concentrations of ionized calcium and magnesium, urine oxalic acid, urine citric acid and serum concentration of creatinine were measured in rats. Rats were sacrificed, renal tissues were obtained, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in renal tissues were determined, the formation of calcium oxalate crystals in renal tissues was observed with HE staining, and the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells was detected by TUNEL method. Results Compared with blank control group, the urine oxalic acid, apoptosis index of renal tubular epithelial cells, content of MDA in renal tissues and serum concentration of creatinine were moderately higher, and the urine concentration of ionized magnesium, urine content of citric acid and activity of T-SOD in renal tissues were moderately lower in single curcumin group. Compared with single nephrolithiasis induction group, the urine oxalic acid, apoptosis index of renal tubular epithelial cells and content of MDA in renal tissues were significantly decreased, and the urine concentration of ionized magnesium, urine content of citric acid and activity of T-SOD in renal tissues were significantly increased in nephrolithiasis induction+curcumin intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion Curcumin can slightly induce calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats with normal diet, but it can effectively inhibit ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.

Key words: calcium oxalate, curcumin, ethylene glycol, nephrolithiasis