Effects of Toluene Exposure on Renal Function and Kidney Antioxidant Status in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Toluene is a volatile organic compound and is a common industrial solvent, known to have toxic effects after chronic exposure in several organs. This study investigated the effects of toluene exposure on renal function and kidney antioxidant status in Wistar rats. Forty female Wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200 g were randomly divided into ten groups of four animals each and administered varying doses of toluene orally for 28 days. Due to severe toxicity, animals in groups VI-X died before the end of the experiment and only groups I–V were used for biochemical analyses. Standard laboratory methods were used to measure serum chloride, urea, sodium, creatinine, potassium and bicarbonate. Other antioxidant parameters in the kidney such as SOD, CAT, GPx and MDA were also determined. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent increases in serum sodium, creatinine, potassium, urea and chloride concentrations in toluene-treated rats compared with the normal control group. In contrast, serum bicarbonate levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing doses. Kidney antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT and GPx, decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing doses of toluene, whereas MDA levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that chronic exposure to toluene causes renal dysfunction and oxidative stress in Wistar rats. The changes in the kidney function indices and antioxidant parameters observed indicate that the nephrotoxic effect of toluene might be mediated by oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation.