Histological and Ultrastructural studies on the effect of Diclofenac Sodium on the renal cortex of fetuses of albino mice

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium (DS) on the renal cortex of fetuses of albino mice from the histological and ultrastructural points of view. Twenty pregnant female mice were allocated into 2 groups (10 mice each). The first group served as control and each animal was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the solvent of the drug, daily for 8 days during pregnancy from day 7 till day 14 of gestation (GDs 7-14). The second group is the treated group; each animal was injected (i.p.) daily with 1.5 mg/kg body weight of DS for 8 days (GDs 7-14). Histological examination of the renal cortex of maternally treated fetuses showed atrophic glomeruli with widened capsular spaces of the renal corpuscles. Renal convoluted tubular cells had a vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei. Some proximal tubules showed disruption of their apical brush borders. Also, the lumina of some proximal and distal tubules were occluded with hyaline casts. Electron microscopic examination of the renal cortex of fetuses maternally treated with DS revealed conspicuous alterations, represented by thickening of the capillary basement membrane in some glomeruli. The foot processes of podocytes were frequently fused thus obliterating the infiltration slits. The cells of the proximal convoluted tubules displayed partial destruction of the microvilli of the apical brush borders and degeneration of mitochondria. Besides, many vesicles and large vacuoles were observed near the basal part of the microvilli. The cells of the distal convoluted tubules showed marked thickening of their basement membranes and their mitochondria lost their cristae and appeared vacuolated.