Cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephrotoxicity hampers the immense therapeutic potential of such a powerful
immunosuppressant. The present study was conducted with an aim to explicate the contribution of sulphated
polysaccharides (SPS) in abating the
lipid abnormalities induced by CsA in the rat kidney.
Hyperlipidemia associated with
nephrotic syndrome may play a role in the worsening of renal function. Male albino Wistar rats sorted into four groups were used for the study. CsA was given at a dose of 25 mg/kg
body weight, orally for 21 days. Significant alterations in the
lipid profile as well an increase in the activity of
cholesterol ester synthase, coupled with a decrease in
cholesterol ester hydrolase and
lipoprotein lipase enzyme activities were noted in the plasma and kidneys of CsA-administered rats. A marked increase in the
lipoprotein fractions,
low-density lipoprotein (
LDL) and
very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), along with a decrease in the HDL level were found in CsA-administered rats. The degree of nephrotoxicity allied with
lipid discrepancies was evident from augmented urinary excretion of
urea,
uric acid and
creatinine. Further, an enhanced susceptibility of the
apo B-containing
lipoproteins (LDL + VLDL) to oxidation in vitro, induced by
copper ions was also found in the plasma of CsA given groups. While SPS co-treated groups (5 mg/kg
body weight, subcutaneously) revealed a normalized
lipid profile and
lipid metabolizing
enzymes, the supplementation of SPS also brought back the elevated urinary constituents close to that of the controls and substantially minimized the oxidative changes. With these observations, it may be concluded herein that SPS may be an ideal choice as a renoprotective and
hypolipidemic agent against CsA-induced hyperlipidemic nephropathy.