Protective role of astaxanthin against bisphenol A induced biochemical and histopathological alterations in rat kidneys.

Objectives: This study investigates the ability of astaxanthin (ASTX), a powerful anti-oxidant, to protect kidney tissue from oxidative and cellular damage resulting from bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity, a widespread global toxin associated with chronic kidney disease. Materials and Methods: We used 32 male Wistar Albino rats, 16 weeks old, and weighing 250-300 g. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, Sham, BPA, and BPA+ASTX. Following the experiment, serum samples were assessed for Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), Arylesterase (ARE), urea, and creatinine levels. Changes in kidney tissue induced by BPA were examined using histopathological methods. Also, the levels of apoptosis and collagen content were evaluated. Results: ASTX treatment reversed the BPA-induced inhibition of PON1 and ARE levels, restoring them to control levels, and reduced the BPA-induced increase in urea levels. Creatinine levels showed no significant differences across the groups. BPA exposure in kidney tissue caused vacuolization, congestion, tubular dilatation, desquamation, infiltration, and increased collagen around glomeruli and blood vessels. However, ASTX treatment significantly improved these pathological findings. While BPA induced apoptosis as indicated by Bax and Bcl-2 analysis, ASTX treatment partially inhibited this process. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ASTX may protect against BPA-induced renal injury. However, the study's limitations include the use of a single dose and a focus solely on kidney tissue. Additionally, the lack of dose-response data and evaluations of other organs or long-term effects are significant drawbacks. Future research should explore multiple doses and longer observation periods for a better understanding of ASTX's protective efficacy.