The Role of L- Arginine in Lithium Induced Nephrotoxicity in Albino Rats a Morphological Study

Abstract

Objective: To observe the protective role of L-Arginine on kidney from toxic effects of Lithium carbonate in 
Albino rats.  
Design: A prospective experimental study. 
Place and duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences 
Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate centre Karachi from July 2007 to November 2007. 
Materials and Methods: Forty five adult albino rats of either sex were taken and were taken and divided into three 
groups as A, B and C which were further divided in to three subgroups according to the period of treatment they 
received i.e. two, four and six weeks respectively. Group ‘A’ animals served as control and Group ‘B’ animals 
received Lithium carbonate (Neurolith, Adamjee Pharma), 20 mg/kg/day with feed. Group ‘C’ animals received 
Lithium carbonate 20 mg/kg/day plus L-Arginine (Arginine, General Nutritional Corporation, Pittsburg USA) 300 
mg/kg/day with feed. After completion of respective period of treatment, kidneys were removed and fixed in 
alcoholic formalin and 10% formalin, after processing were embedded in paraffin. 5µ thick longitudinal sections 
were cut and stained with PAS-Haematoxylin and Gomori’s calcium phosphate method for study of cell 
morphology.   
Results: PAS-Haematoxylin stained sections of group ‘A’ revealed normal renal cortical histology. Gomori’s 
calcium phosphate method stained tissue revealed normal activity of alkaline phosphates. Group ‘B’ revealed altered 
renal histology with damage to the proximal tubules on PAS-Haematoxylin stained sections. Gomori’s calcium 
phosphate method stained sections revealed decreased activity of Alkaline phosphatase in proximal tubules. Group 
‘C’ revealed normal cortical architecture except very mild alteration to brush border in subgroup ‘C3’. Gomori’s 
calcium phosphate method stained sections revealed normal activity of Alkaline phosphatase. 
Conclusion: The present study suggests that even in therapeutic dose lithium carbonate causes damage to the 
proximal tubules in albino rats and L-Arginine minimizes the toxic effects of lithium carbonate.