Ameliorative effects of glycine on cobalt chloride-induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats

Background:The important roles of liver and kidney in the elimination of injurious chemicals make them highly susceptible to the noxious activities of various toxicants including cobalt chloride(CoCI2).This study was designed to investigate the role of glycine in the mitigation of hepato-renal toxicities associated with CoCI2 exposure.Methods:Forty-two(42)male rats were grouped as Control;(CoCI2;300ppm);CoCI2+Glycine(50mg/kg);CoCI2+Glycine(100mg/kg);Glycine(50mg/kg);and Glycine(100mg/kg).The markers of hepatic and renal damage,oxidative stress,the antioxidant defense system,histopathology,and immunohistochemical localization of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin(NGAL)and renal podocin were evaluated.Results:Glycine significantly reduced the markers of oxidative stress(malondialde-hyde content and H2O2 generation),liver function tests(ALT,AST,and ALP),markers of renal function(creatinine and BUN),and decreased the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)and podocin compared with rats exposed to CoCI2 toxicity without glycine treatment.Histopathology lesions including patchy tubular epithelial necrosis,tubular epithelial degeneration and periglomerular inflam-mation in renal tissues,and severe portal hepatocellular necrosis,inflammation,and duct hyperplasia were observed in hepatic tissues of rats exposed to CoCI2 toxicity,but were mild to absent in glycine-treated rats.Conclusion:The results of this study clearly demonstrate protective effects of gly-cine against CoCI2-induced tissue injuries and derangement of physiological activi-ties of the hepatic and renal systems in rats.The protective effects are mediated via augmentation of total antioxidant capacity and upregulation of NGAL and podocin expression.