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Introduction: The diuretic agent furosemide (FUR, 25 and 50 mg/kg) has been shown in a single report to act as an anti-stressor agent in two models of acute stress in mice, viz. electric foot–shock stress and immobilization (IMS). The present work aimed to investigate the possible anti-stressor action of FUR on two models of acute stress in mice, cold-water stress (CWS) and IMS, and tried to determine whether gender has any impact on the effect of FUR. Methods: FUR (40 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, and after 30 minutes, mice were subjected to CWS (4°C for three minutes) or IMS (fixing movement for two and a half hrs using adhesive tape). Motor and exploratory activities, neuromuscular coordination, and thermal nociception were then tested. Blood was collected from the mice and used to measure the concentrations of three stress hormones (corticosterone, epinephrine and prolactin). Results: Mice subjected to CWS and IMS had significantly reduced motor and exploratory activities, neuromuscular coordination, and increased nociception. CWS and IMS also significantly increased the plasma concentrations of the three hormones. FUR pretreatment significantly mitigated these stress-induced hormonal changes. There was no significant sex difference when CWS or IMS was applied. Discussion: IMS and CWS stimuli in male and female mice caused significant elevations in the plasma concentrations of corticosterone, epinephrine, and prolactin, accompanied by a significant reduction of motor and exploratory activities, neuromuscular coordination, and thermal nociception. There were no sex differences when IMS was applied. In stressed mice, prior administration of FUR (40 mg/kg) significantly decreased the concentrations of stress hormones, and this effect significantly mitigated the stress-induced behavioural and motor changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a strong evidence for an association between exposure to particulate air pollution (PAP) and several chronic diseases including kidney diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of the flavon chrysin on the adverse effects of a common PAP (viz, diesel exhaust particle, DEP) in rats with adenine - induced chronic kidney disease. Rats were divided into 8 groups: control (C), adenine (0.25% in feed), DEP (0.5 mg/kg), chrysin (100 mg/kg), and different combinations with these agents, given daily for 35 consecutive days. Thereafter, urine, plasma, lungs and kidneys were collected and used in various physiological, biochemical, histopathological and histochemical measurements. Adenine lowered body weight, and increased water intake, relative kidney weight and urine output. It decreased creatinine clearance and elevated the plasma concentrations of some inflammatory cytokines, urea, creatinine, nitrite, nitrate and neutrophil gelatinaseassociated lipocalin activity, as well as the uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate, uric acid and phosphorus. In urine, adenine increased the albumin and endothelin /creatinine ratio, kidney injury molecule and N-Acetylbeta- D-glucosaminidase activity. Renal histopathological markers of inflammation and fibrosis were significantly increased, and renal activities of oxidative stress indices were all reduced. Concomitant treatment with adenine and DEP exacerbated the histological pulmonary and renal damage and some, but not all, biochemical induces caused by either agent. Chrysin treatment significantly abrogated most of adenine and adenine +DEP actions, suggesting that, pending further pharmacological and toxicological studies, it may be a useful supplement in CKD patients, especially those exposed to air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium bromate (KBrO 3 ) is used in many countries in cosmetic and food industries. In this work, we investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats, the effect of four graded oral doses of KBrO 3 (5, 15, 45 and 135 mg/kg/day for 28 days) on renal function tests, inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis, as well as on histopathology, using several traditional and novel renal injury biomarkers in plasma, urine and renal tissues. We also tested the possible ameliorative action of the renoprotective prebiotic agent gum acacia (GA) on the actions of KBrO 3 when given concomitantly with it in the drinking water at a concentration of 15% w/v . Taken together, the results indicated that treatment with KBrO 3 at the 45 and 135 mg/kg doses caused a significant dose-dependent nephrotoxicity, as evident by the measured renal structural and functional indices and biomarkers of toxicity. GA co-treatment significantly abated most of the indices and biomarkers of the renal toxicity caused by KBrO 3 , suggesting a beneficial effect and its possible inclusion in edible products where KBrO 3 is still used., Competing Interests: None.