Effect of dietary vitamin E on ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The effect of dietary vitamin E on renal tissue damage and lipid peroxidation was investigated following treatment with ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) in rats. Almost 100% renal proximal tubular necrosis was observed in the vitamin E-deficient rats following Fe-NTA treatment (5 mgFe/kg body wt, ip) as early as 12 hr. In the vitamin E-supplemented rats, no injury was observed in the proximal convoluted (cortical) tubules, although some injury was seen in the medullary outer stripe (mostly pars recta of the proximal tubules) 24 hr after Fe-NTA treatment. The tissue lipid peroxidation was dose-dependently increased 1 hr after a single ip injection of Fe-NTA (1 to 10 mg Fe/kg body wt). Vitamin E-deficient animals had an increased tissue content of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance following Fe-NTA treatment, whereas vitamin E-supplemented animals showed suppressed lipid peroxidation. This study indicates that vitamin E provides some protection against the nephrotoxicity and associated lipid peroxidation induced by Fe-NTA.