Protective effects of glycyrrhizin on gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin (200 mg/kg/day) on renal function in association with the regulation of aquaporin 2 water channel in rats with gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day)-induced acute renal failure. Polyuria in rats with gentamicin-induced acute renal failure was associated with down-regulation of renal aquaporin 2 in the inner and outer renal medulla, and cortex. Glycyrrhizin administration restored the expression of aquaporin 2 with paralleled changes in urine output. Changes in renal functional parameters, such as creatinine clearance, urinary osmolality, and solute-free reabsorption, accompanying acute renal failure were also partially restored after administration of glycyrrhizin. Histological changes in rats with gentamicin-induced acute renal failure were also abrogated by glycyrrhizin treatment. The above results suggest that glycyrrhizin treatment could ameliorate renal defects in rats with acute renal failure induced by gentamicin.