Assessing the Nephrotoxic Impact of Oseltamivir in Male Albino Rats after Repeated Exposure

The effects of oseltamivir administration, effectively against influenza viruses A and B, on some selected
parameters of rat kidney function were investigated to evaluate its possible nephrotoxic effects.
Eighteen (18) albino male Wistar rats with body weights ranging from 150 - 190 g were divided into
three groups. The results revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN),
serum uric acid and serum creatinine in group T2 that have been administerd 1 mg/Kg.BW oseltamivir
for six weeks, while the T1 group which was dosed the same dosage rate of oseltamive but for one
week only showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum uric acid only. Kidney histopathological
lesions in the T1 rats showed atrophy of the glomerular tufts, dilation of the Bowman’s space,
deposition of hyaline droplets within the lumen of the proximal and distal con-voluted renal tubules, a
cloudy swelling of the epithelial cells lining the renal tubules with perivascular lymphocytic cuffing and
severe congestion of the interstitial renal blood vessels. The kidneys of the T2 rats showed necrosis
of the epithelial cells lining the renal tubules and cystic di-lation with complete dissolution of their
epithelial linings. Mild interstitial fibrosis and thickening of the Bowman’s capsule were also observed.
Similarly, there was fibrous thickening of the kidney capsule with mild medul-lary interstitial fibrosis. In
conclusion, oseltamivir administered in repeated doses to rats induced some deleterious nephrotoxic
effects in a time-dependent manner.