Elucidation of the therapeutic mechanisms of dexpanthenol againstdiatrizoate-induced contrast nephropathy via SIRT 1, P53, Bcl2/Bax pathways

Contrast agents are now employed in medical imaging to facilitate numerous diagnoses, guide treatment, and provide contrast between normal and pathological tissue. Consequently, their utilization is increasing. However, contrast agents may induce undesirable side effects during or after application in the human body. Some of these adverse effects may have severe consequences, and our research focuses on contrast nephropathy, which is among the most serious side effects. Despite the numerous studies conducted, no method exists in the literature to prevent or treat contrast nephropathy.In our study, we developed a model of contrast nephropathy in rats and investigated the preventive or therapeutic effect of dexpanthenol on contrast nephropathy. The experimental model comprised 32 female Wistar Albino rats, which were divided into four groups of eight animals each. The first group served as the control group, the second group was exposed to radiocontrast, the third group was exposed to radiocontrast and dexpanthenol, and the fourth group was administered dexpanthenol. A comprehensive array of histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations was conducted on kidney tissues, complemented by BUN-Creatinine analysis of blood tissues. The findings of our study revealed no statistically significant differences between the uro group and the uro+index groups with respect to creatinine and urea values. However, when the uro group was compared with the uro+index group, a significant reduction in renal damage was observed at the histopathologic level in the uro+index group. In contrast, when the uro group was compared with the uro+dex group, a significant decrease in p53, a significant increase in Bcl-2, a significant increase in SIRT-1, a significant decrease in Bax, a significant decrease in TNF-a, and a significant decrease in caspase 3 was observed in the uro+dex group. The findings suggest that dexpanthenol can prevent renal damage detected at genetic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical levels in the uro group.