Rats were treated with either procyanidins or lycopene 2h before HgCl2 subcutaneously injection, once daily treatment for 2 successive days.
In comparison with HgCl2 group, markers of renal function such as blood urea nitrogen in serum and urinary protein were decreased to (18.45¡À11.63) mmol/L and (15.93¡À9.36) mmol/L, (4.54¡À0.78) g/(g¡¤Cr) and (4.40¡À1.12) g/(g¡¤Cr). N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase in urine were depressed to (125.49¡À11.68) U/(g¡¤Cr), (103.73¡À21.79) U/(g¡¤Cr), (101.99¡À12.28) U/(g¡¤Cr), and (113.19¡À23.74) U/(g¡¤Cr), (71.14¡À21.80) U/(g¡¤Cr), (73.64¡À21.51) U/(g¡¤Cr) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. Indicators of oxidative stress, for example, Glutathion was reduced to (45.58¡À9.89) ¦Ìmol/(g¡¤pro) and (45.33¡À5.90) ¦Ìmol/(g¡¤pro), and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione-peroxidase were enhanced to (43.07¡À10.97) U/(mg¡¤pro) and (39.94¡À6.04) U/(mg¡¤pro), (83.85¡À18.48) U/(mg¡¤pro), and (85.62¡À12.68) U/(mg¡¤pro). Malondialdehyde was lowered to (0.95¡À0.12) (¦Ìmol/g¡¤pro) and (1.03¡À0.12) ¦Ìmol/(g¡¤pro) in procyanidins and lycopene groups. ROS generation was decreased by 27.63 % and 16.40 % and apoptosis was also decreased in procyanidins and lycopene groups respectively. Pathological changes were much better as well.
Procyanidins and Lycopene play some protective role against mercury kidney damage.