A Study on the Effect of Cimetidine on Myoglobinuric Acute Kidney Injury in Male Rats

Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis-induced myoglobinuric acute renal failure accounts for about 10-40% of all cases of acute renal failure (ARF). Iron and Cytochrome P450 are involved in the pathogenesis of myoglobinuric ARF. The Aim of this Study: To explore the effect of cimetidine as a potent cytochrome P450 inhibitor on myoglobinuric ARF in rat. Methods: Twenty four rats were divided into 3 groups; Group 1: Control rats. The remaining rats were injected with 50% glycerol (10ml/kg, i.m.) and were divided into 2 groups: Group 2: Untreated myoglobinuric ARF, Group 3: Received cimetidine (150mg/kg i.p) concomitant with glycerol injection. Forty eight hours later blood samples were collected to evaluate BUN and serum creatinine. Kidney specimens were taken to investigate cytochrome P450 in the kidney tissue and for histopathological examination. Results: Cimetidine treatment significantly decreased serum creatinine and BUN as compared to group 2. Cytochrome P450 was significantly increased in the group treated with cimetidine as compared to group 2. The histological changes confirmed the biochemical findings. Conclusion: Cimetidine has a protective effect against myoglobinuric renal failure most probably through blocking the loss of cytochrome P450 which is an important source for the injurious catalytic iron.