The Toxicity of Aluminum Chloride on Kidney of Rats

This study investigated the toxicity of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) exposure in the rat kidney. Forty male Wistar rats (5 weeks old), weighing 110-120 g, were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CG, 0 g/L AlCl3), low dose group (LG, 0.4 g/L AlCl3), mid dose group (MG, 0.8 g/L AlCl3), and high dose group (HG, 1.6 g/L AlCl3). Rats were administered AlCl3 in their drinking water for 120 days. A variety of measurements were taken including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the kidney and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and cystatin C (Cys-C) concentrations in the serum. In addition, Al and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) concentrations and the activity of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine were determined. The results showed that in the AlCl3-treated groups SOD and GSH-PX activities were decreased, while NAG activity and Al, MDA, BUN, Cys-C, and β2-MG concentrations were increased, compared with the CG. This study indicates that AlCl3 exposure induces oxidative stress and suppresses kidney function.