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Updated: May 2, 2026
Intrarenal Injection of Escherichia coli in a Rat Model of Pyelonephritis
Published on: July 18, 2017
Effect of Thymoquinone on Oxidative Stress in Escherichia coli-Induced Pyelonephritis in Rats
Omer Evirgen1, Ahmet Gökçe2, Oktay Hasan Ozturk3
1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
Insights
Thymoquinone (TQ) treatment significantly reduced oxidative damage in rats with pyelonephritis (PYN), suggesting its potential as a supportive therapy to protect kidneys from PYN-induced damage.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Recurrent pyelonephritis (PYN) poses a risk for renal damage, particularly in individuals with diabetes or incontinence.
- Oxidative stress and free radical release are correlated with PYN and subsequent kidney damage.
- Antioxidant agents have shown promise in mitigating renal damage when administered early after bacterial inoculation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against oxidative damage in an acute pyelonephritis (PYN) model.
- To evaluate whether TQ administration before or during Escherichia coli inoculation prevents oxidative damage in a rat model of ascending obstructive pyelonephritis.
Main Methods:
- Forty-two Wistar rats were divided into control, PYN, and TQ-treated PYN groups, observed at 24, 48, and 72 hours.
- Escherichia coli was inoculated into the bladders of PYN and TQ-PYN groups.
- Thymoquinone (TQ) was administered intraperitoneally 24 hours before inoculation and repeated every 24 hours at 10 mg/kg.
Main Results:
- TQ administration significantly lowered superoxide dismutase activity in PYN rats at 48 and 72 hours compared to controls.
- Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly different between TQ-treated and untreated PYN groups.
- Histopathological examinations confirmed a protective effect of TQ, showing significant differences between PYN and TQ-PYN groups at all time points.
Conclusions:
- Thymoquinone (TQ) administration effectively attenuated oxidative damage associated with pyelonephritis (PYN) in a rat model.
- TQ demonstrates potential as a supportive therapeutic agent for preventing kidney damage resulting from PYN.
Background:
Recurrent urinary tract infections are important in children and adults with diabetes mellitus and/or incontinence due to risk of pyelonephritis (PYN) and renal damage. There is a positive correlation released free radicals during PYN and renal damage. Experimental studies showed that antioxidant agents improve renal damage when used immediately after bacterial inoculation.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether treatment by thymoquinone (TQ) before or during Escherichia coli inoculation prevents oxidative damage in acute pyelonephritis (PYN) in an ascending obstructive rat model.
Methods:
In this study, 42 Wistar rats were grouped as follows: control, PYN (24, 48, and 72 hours), and TQ-PYN (24, 48, and 72 hours). E. coli (1 ×10(9) colony forming units) was inoculated into the bladder via urethral catheterization in both the PYN and TQ groups. TQ injections were performed 24 hours before bacteria inoculation and repeated at 24-hour intervals during the indicated time at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally in TQ groups.
Results:
Superoxide dismutase activity was statistically lower in the TQ-PYN-48 and -72 groups than the PYN-48 and -72 groups (P < 0.001, P = 0.004, respectively). Catalase activity was significantly higher in PYN-24, -48, and -72 groups than the control group (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference between the TQ-PYN-24, -48, and -72 groups and PYN groups in terms of glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.001, P = 0.026, P = 0.046, respectively). When the TQ-PYN-72 group was compared with the PYN-72 group, malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the TQ-PYN-72 group than in the PYN-72 group (P = 0.033). A histologic examination also confirmed the protective effect of TQ. In statistical analysis of histopathologic findings, there were significant differences between the PYN-24 and TQ-PYN-24, PYN-48 and TQ-PYN-48, and PYN-72 and TQ-PYN-72 groups (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively).
Conclusions:
The results indicate that TQ administration attenuated the oxidative damage that occurred in PYN and, therefore, could be used as a supportive agent to protect the kidneys from oxidative damage caused by PYN.
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