The Tie-In Between Antimicrobial Agent (Nitrofurantoin) and Kidney Histology Using an Animal Model

Abstract

This study investigates the histological effects of nitrofurantoin, a widely used nitrofuran-class antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs), on the kidneys of male albino rats. Nitrofurantoin, effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, is excreted primarily through the kidneys, raising concerns about potential nephrotoxicity. Despite its clinical utility, limited research exists on its renal impact, particularly at the histological level. This research reveals the effect of Nitrofurantoin on the kidney histology and weight of an albino rat. The research was carried out within a total period of 3 months. This experimental study utilized 20 male albino rats weighting between 129-152g divided into four groups: a control group receiving distilled water and three test groups administered 25%, 50%, and 75% of the lethal dose 50 (LD50) of nitrofurantoin (151 mg/kg, 302 mg/kg, and 453 mg/kg, respectively) orally for 21 days which is the number of days drugs were administer. Before the 21 days, the animals were allowed to acclimatize to the environment for 7 days. Post-treatment, the kidneys were excised, fixed in 10% formal saline, and processed using Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining for histological analysis. The total Results revealed significant weight loss in treated rats (p = 0.009) compared to controls (p = 0.335), indicating systemic effects potentially linked to renal or metabolic stress. Histological examination showed normal renal architecture in the control group, while treated groups exhibited dose-dependent changes, including mild glomerular necrosis, tubular damage, and focal fibrosis, suggestive of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. These findings confirm that nitrofurantoin induces renal tissue damage, with severity increasing with dosage, emphasizing the need for cautious dosing and renal function monitoring during therapy. The study highlights the importance of pre-treatment renal screening to identify at-risk patients and recommends further research to establish safe dosage guidelines and explore protective interventions against nitrofurantoin-induced nephrotoxicity. These insights contribute to improved therapeutic protocols, ensuring patient safety and optimizing the clinical use of nitrofurantoin in managing UTIs.