Protective effect of vitamin E against methamphetamine-induced renal damage in male rats
Medical Biotechnology Department, College of Science, Tikrit University, Iraq.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Life Sciences, 2026, 12(01), 009–017.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjls.2026.12.1.0026
Publication history:
Received on 29 June 2026; revised on 06 August 2026; accepted on 08 August 2026
Abstract:
The present study was designed to study the toxicity effects of methamphetamine on renal histological architecture of male rats and its possible protective effect by Vitamin E and was carried out at the Animal house and the laboratories of the College of veterinary medicine, Tikrit University, from 1st October 2025 till 1st November 2025. The study included a total of 32 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats randomly divided into four experimental groups comprised of eight rats per group. Each group was then split into four subgroups for 15- and 30-days treatment periods. The first group was used as a control group which was fed with a regular diet and water during the experimental period. The second group received methamphetamine for 15 and 30 days at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg (1 mL/day). The third group was treated with Vitamin E 0.1 mL/day for the same durations. The 4th group received methamphetamine (0.1 mg/kg, 1 mL/day) and Vitamin E (0.1 mL/day) for 15 and 30 days. In the experimental period, the methamphetamine-treated animals showed significant differences in their behavior, such as hyperactivity, increased locomotor activity within the cages, heightened irritability and aggression. There was also a significant drop in the consumption of food and water. After completion of each experimental period, animals were killed by anesthetic injection and blood was drawn directly from the heart using a 4 mL sterile syringe. The samples were placed in serum separator tubes (SST) for biochemical analysis of kidney function evaluation. The animals were then killed and kidney tissue samples were collected for histopathological analysis. Histopathological evaluation revealed multiple renal lesions in methamphetamine-treated animals, including glomerular atrophy, widening of Bowman’s space, degeneration and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage, vascular congestion, and hemolyzed blood exudation. Biochemical results also showed marked changes in renal function parameters, which suggest that the methamphetamine exposure caused poor renal function.
They found that methamphetamine use caused progressive renal damage, worsening with the length of time the drug was administered. Renal lesions began to develop from early changes following 15 days of treatment, up to extensive tissue necrosis and the formation of thrombi after 30 days. In addition, Vitamin E showed a significant protection effect in short-term exposure by enhancing functional and histopathological renal parameters. But its protective effects decreased with chronic exposure to methamphetamine.
Keywords:
Methamphetamine; Vitamin E; Nephrotoxicity; Methamphetamine renal histopathology; Methamphetamine-induced nephrotoxicity; Renal Function.
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