Oxidative stress in paracetamol-induced pathogenesis: (I). Renal damage.

The effect of administration of paracetamol (1 g/kg body wt) on oxidative damage to proteins and lipids in the kidney was studied at various time intervals in adult male Wistar rats. Iindicators of oxidative stress, such as protein thiol, protein carbonyl content and lipid peroxide levels were assayed along with thiol-dependent enzyme activities, glutamine synthase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Paracetamol-induced renal damage after 4 hr of administration was evidenced by elevation in plasma creatinine levels and the presence of acute tubular necrosis on histological examination of the kidney. No significant change in any other parameters was observed, except for decreased glutathione level. An increase in lipid peroxide level was observed at 24 hr after treatment. The results suggest that oxidative stress may not play a causative role, but contribute to the pathogenesis of paracetamol-induced renal damage.