The Histological Impact of Amikacin on Renal Tissue of Rats: The Role of Vitamin D3

Background: Amikacin is a strong aminoglycoside antibiotic which mainly targets Gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs. Its effectiveness remains restricted because of its potential to cause kidney damage. The primary reason for renal injury after amikacin use is excessive oxidative stress causing damage to tubular epithelial cells through enhancing both mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory responses. Vitamin D₃ has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect against tissue damage. Objective: The research investigated the renal protective effect of vitamin D₃ after amikacin toxicity through histopathological and morphometric assessments of rat kidney tissue. Methods: Twenty-four adult albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, amikacin (300 mg/kg, i.p.), vitamin D₃ (500 IU/kg, orally) + amikacin (500 IU/kg, i.p.), and vitamin D₃ (500 IU/kg, orally) alone. The treatment spanned two weeks for vitamin D₃ followed by seven days of amikacin. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to study kidney tissues. Results: The administration of amikacin alone lead to major kidney tissue damage causing both tubular and glomerular injuries with thinning of epithelial cells and enlarged Bowman’s space. The combination of vitamin D₃ with amikacin successfully prevented these lesions, maintained normal glomerular dimensions and protected tubular tissue from damage. The research established a strong negative connection (r=–0.82, p