Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ziziphus Jujuba Leaf to Prevent Ethylene Glycol and Ammonium Chloride-Induced Kidney Stones in Male Rat: Is it Effective?

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ziziphus jujuba (Z. jujuba) leaf hydroalcoholic extract on the prevention/treatment of kidney stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, Sham (kidney stone induction (KSI) by ethylene glycol 1% + ammonium chloride 0.25% through drinking water for 28 days), Prevention groups 1, 2 (KSI and Z. jujuba leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) through gavage for 28 days), and Treatment groups 1, 2 (KSI and Z. jujuba leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) from the 15th day). On the 29th day, the rats' 24-hour urine was assessed, the animals were weighed, and blood samples were taken. Finally, after nephrectomy and weighing the kidneys, tissue sections were prepared to examine the number of calcium oxalate crystals and tissue changes. RESULTS: The results indicated a significant increase in kidney weight and index, tissue changes, and the number of calcium oxalate crystals in the Sham group compared to the control; using Z. jujuba leaf considerably reduced them in experimental groups compared to the Sham. Body weight decreased in the Sham and experimental groups (except the prevention 2 group) compared to the control, while this observed reduction was lower in all experimental groups compared to the Sham. The mean urinary calcium, uric acid, creatinine, and serum creatinine in Sham and experimental groups (except the prevention 2 group) indicated a substantial increase compared to the control and decreased significantly in all experimental groups compared to the Sham. CONCLUSION: Hydroalcoholic extract of Z. jujuba leaf is effective in the reduction of calcium oxalate crystals forming, and its most effective dose was 500mg/kg.

A comparative study on several models of experimental renal calcium oxalate stones formation in rats.

In order to compare the effects of several experimental renal calcium oxalate stones formation models in rats and to find a simple and convenient model with significant effect of calcium oxalate crystals deposition in the kidney, several rat models of renal calcium oxalate stones formation were induced by some crystal-inducing drugs (CID) including ethylene glycol (EG), ammonium chloride (AC), vitamin D(3)[1alpha(OH)VitD(3), alfacalcidol], calcium gluconate, ammonium oxalate, gentamicin sulfate, L-hydroxyproline. The rats were fed with drugs given singly or unitedly. At the end of experiment, 24-h urines were collected and the serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), the extents of calcium oxalate crystal deposition in the renal tissue, urinary calcium and oxalate excretion were measured. The serum Cr levels in the stone-forming groups were significantly higher than those in the control group except for the group EG+L-hydroxyproline, group calcium gluconate and group oxalate. Blood BUN concentration was significantly higher in rats fed with CID than that in control group except for group EG+L-hydroxyproline and group ammonium oxalate plus calcium gluconate. In the group of rats administered with EG plus Vitamin D(3), the deposition of calcium oxalate crystal in the renal tissue and urinary calcium excretion were significantly greater than other model groups. The effect of the model induced by EG plus AC was similar to that in the group induced by EG plus Vitamin D(3). EG plus Vitamin D(3) or EG plus AC could stably and significantly induced the rat model of renal calcium oxalate stones formation.

Electrophysiological effects of chilotoquine on tight junctions of immature rat Sertoli cells in vitro.

We investigated the effect of CQ, an antimalarial drug with antiprotease activity, and NH4Cl, a related amines on the development of intercellular tight junctions in cultured immature rat Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells were seeded in serum-free defined medium at a density of 3 x 10(6) cells/0.64 cm2/well on Matrigel-covered Millicell-HA filters. CQ (1 microM and 2 microM) or NH4Cl (6.25 mM and 12 mM) was added to the outer (basal) compartment of the bicameral system either on day 1 or day 7 of the culture. Formation of tight junctions was monitored by measurement of the transepithelial resistance (TER) at 24 hr intervals using an impedance meter. TER in untreated controls was 50 omega/cm2 on day 1, increased progressively to 80 omega/cm2 by day 7 and plateaued until day 12. The cells treated from day 1 with CQ showed dose-dependent progressive increase in TER until day 12, reaching 191 omega/cm2 in cells treated with 1 microM concentration. In cells treated with CQ starting from day 7 of culture onwards, TER patterns were similar to those noted following exposure to chloroquine from day 1. Also in cultures containing NH4Cl, in comparison to the control, the increase in TER was significantly higher. These observations demonstrate that CQ and HN4Cl promote tight junction formation between immature rat Sertoli cells invitro suggesting that antiproteases may be involved in the formation of blood-testis barrier.

Struvite diet in cats: effect of ammonium chloride and carbonates on acid base balance of cats.

Six healthy adult cats were fed a basal minced beef meat and rice diet (one meal per day) with varying amounts or combinations of acidifying and alkalizing additives (ammonium chloride, calcium and sodium carbonate). The base excess in the food (mmol/kg dry matter) was calculated (data on food compounds in g/kg dry matter) as follows: base excess = 49.9*Ca + 82.3*Mg + 43.5*Na + 25.6*K-64.6*P-13.4*met-16.6*cys-28.2*Cl. Base excess in the experimental diets amounted to between +305 and -1079 mmol/kg dry matter. After an adaptation period of 5 d, urine and blood pH as well as water and mineral balance were determined in the cats over a 10-15-d period. The daily mean urine pH ranged between 6.1 and 7.8. There was a highly significant correlation between the base excess in the food and the mean urine pH. The regression line was linear down to a base excess in the diet of approximately -400 to -500 mmol/kg dry matter and a pH in the urine of 6.2. The postprandial increase of urine pH was suppressed either by large amounts of ammonium chloride (> 780 mmol/kg dry matter) alone or in combination with calcium carbonate but not in combination with sodium carbonate. The relationship between the decrease of the blood pH and the amount of ammonium chloride added to the diet was more marked than the relationship between blood pH and base excess in the food.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of dietary acidification and potassium depletion on acid-base balance, mineral metabolism and renal function in adult cats.

Effects of dietary potassium restriction, with or without dietary acidification, on acid-base balance, mineral metabolism and renal function were evaluated in 12 adult cats. Six cats were fed a potassium-restricted diet (0.2% potassium) for 8 wk, and six cats were fed the same potassium-restricted diet plus a dietary acidifier (0.8% NH4Cl) for 8 wk. Both groups of cats were then fed the same diet supplemented with potassium gluconate (0.7% dietary potassium) for an additional 4 wk. Renal function was evaluated before treatment and again at 8 and 12 wk. Serum potassium concentration declined in all cats by wk 1 and was also lower in NH4Cl-treated cats at 2, 3, 6 and 8 wk than in control cats. Metabolic acidosis developed in both groups of cats. Dietary balance studies indicated negative potassium balance in NH4Cl-treated cats. Glomerular filtration rate declined significantly in NH4Cl-treated cats after 8 wk but was unchanged in control cats. From the results of this study, we conclude that adding a dietary acidifier to a potassium-restricted diet worsens hypokalemia, possibly by affecting gastrointestinal potassium handling, and induces severe metabolic acidosis and renal dysfunction in adult cats.