RENAL TOXICITY

In this study, the differential effect of one and two weeks exposure to carbendazim on renal toxicity in rat was carried out. Twenty male rats were grouped into control and test group. The rats were labelled using picric acid and weight of individual rats were taken using a weighing balance and recorded as initial weight. The control group was orally administered 1% tween 80 using a gavage, while the test group was orally administered 200mg/kg body weight of Carbendazim dissolved in 1% tween 80 (acts as vehicle) using a gavage. oral administrations were done once and the rats were monitored for a period of 1-2 weeks and observations were recorded. After one week of Carbendazim exposure, five (5) rats from each group were anaesthesized in chamber containing Chloroform and blood was collected by cardiac puncture. The kidneys were excised, trimmed free of connective tissues and weighed. One kidney from each group was immersed in formalin and used for histopatholigical study while the remaining kidneys were stored at -4 0c until needed for biochemical studies. The parameters measured were; Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase ,Malondialdehyde ,Urea and Creatinine. There was no significant change (p>0.05) in kidney weight of rats when compared with the normal control but the weight of kidney decreased significantly (p<0.05). Increase in MDA levels were not significant (p>0.05)in carbendazim treated groups compared with normal control after 7days and 14 days respectively. The elevation in Catalse activity after 7 days was not significant(P>0.05) in Carbendazim treated group when compared to the control but Catalase activity increased significantly (P<0.05)after 14 days which may be an indicator of the body trying to alleviate oxidative stress. increased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) is beneficial in event of increased free radical production. SOD levels increased significantly (p<0.05)in carbendazim treated rats compared with the control after 7days of Carbendazim exposure. The significant increase in Urea and Creatinine levels in the blood may be attributed to Carbendazim toxicity. Creatinine levels increased significantly (p<0.05) after 7 days in carbendazim treated group compared with the normal control. After 14 days, the increase in Creatinine levels was not significant (p>0.05) in Carbendazim treated group compared with control. In histopathological examination, Ultra-structural changes were observed in the kidney of rats treated with carbendazim compared to those of control. Inflammatory infiltrates and tubular necrosis which indicates damage to kidney tubules were observed in the kidney of carbendazim treated rats (plate 2 and plate 4) after 7 days and 14days respectively