Effects of alpha lipoic acid on valproic acid induced kidney injury in rats

Valproic acid (VPA) is a short branch chained fatty acid and used for an effective treatment of epilepsy, migrane and bipolar disorders. The long-term usage of VPA has become dangerous due to its free radical formation property. The kidneys are one of the most affected organs during VPA treatment. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally existing antioxidant and its dual solubility in aqueous and lipid solvents makes this substance a powerful antioxidant. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the protective effects of ALA on VPA induced kidney damage. The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups as follows: Group I; control group, Group II; ALA group (given 50 mg/kg ALA, orally), Group III; VPA group (given 500 mg/kg VPA, intraperitonally), Group IV; VPA+ALA group (received at the same dose and time). The experimental procedure was applied to rats for 15 days. On the 16th day, all rats were sacrificed under anesthesia. The kidney tissues were taken and homogenized with cold 0.9% NaCl. The kidney samples were centrifuged. In collected supernatants, the reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities, sodium potassium ATPase and carbonic anhydrase activities were decreased while lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, total oxidant status and advanced oxidized protein product and glycoprotein levels, arginase, myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase activities were increased after VPA administration. ALA reversed these levels and activities in the VPA group. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that ALA can prevent VPA induced kidney damage.