Özet:

Hyperglycaemia-mediated oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The present study investigated the renoprotective effect of Juniper (Juniper berry; JB) oil in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. For this, 40 male Wistar albino rats were divided into five group, namely, control, diabetes mellitus (DM), DM+acarbose, DM + JB oil and JB oil groups. Experimental diabetes was established by injecting the rats with a single dose (55 mg/kg) of STZ intraperitoneally. The rats in the DM+ardıç oil and ardıç oil groups received 50 ml JB oil/kg diet. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed and their blood and tissue samples were obtained. Histopathological changes, caspase-3 immunoexpression, malondialdehyde MDA and glutathione (GSH) concentration and catalase activities in the kidney tissues of the rats were examined. Moreover, serum urea and creatinine levels were examined. Histopathologically, the rats in the DM group showed degeneration and necrosis of tubular epithelial cells and destruction of glomerular structures. Immunohistochemically, these rats showed increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity in the tubular epithelial cells. Biochemically, MDA concentration was significantly higher in the kidney tissue of the rats in the DM group than that of the rats in the control group. GSH concentration and catalase activities were significantly lower in the kidney tissue of the rats in the DM group than that of the rats in the control group. Moreover, serum urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher in the rats in the DM group than those in the control group. The rats in the DM + JB oil group showed an improvement in STZ-induced histopathological changes. Moreover, these rats showed decreased caspase-3 immunoexpression in the kidney tissue and improved biochemical parameters. Thus, these results indicate that JB oil exerts protective effects in the kidneys of diabetic rats.

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