Sulfasalazine-induced renal and hepatic injury in rats and the protective role of taurine.
INTRODUCTION
Sulfasalazine is a drug commonly administrated against inflammatory-based disorders. On the other hand, kidney and liver injury are serious adverse events accompanied by sulfasalazine administration. No specific therapeutic option is available against this complication. The current investigation was designed to evaluate the potential protective effects of taurine against sulfasalazine-induced kidney and liver injury in rats.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with sulfasalazine (600 mg/kg, oral) for 14 consecutive days. Animals received different doses of taurine (250, 500 and 1000 mg/ kg, i.p.) every day. Markers of organ injury were evaluated on day 15(th), 24 h after the last dose of sulfasalazine.


RESULTS
Sulfasalazine caused renal and hepatic injury as judged by an increase in serum level of creatinine (Cr), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation were raised in kidney and liver of sulfasalazine-treated animals. Moreover, tissue glutathione reservoirs were depleted after sulfasalazine administration. Histopathological changes of kidney and liver also endorsed organ injury. Taurine administration (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, i.p) alleviated sulfasalazine-induced renal and hepatic damage.


CONCLUSION
Taurine administration could serve as a potential protective agent with therapeutic capabilities against sulfasalazine adverse effects.
['Heidari|Reza|R|', 'Rasti|Maryam|M|', 'Shirazi Yeganeh|Babak|B|', 'Niknahad|Hossein|H|', 'Saeedi|Arastoo|A|', 'Najibi|Asma|A|']
Taurine Anti-rheumatoid drugs Drug-induced liver injury Hepatotoxicity Renal injury