Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

The experimental study was designed to evaluate the nephrotoxicity produced by Imidacloprid (IMI) and Chlorpyrifos (CPF) in rats. A total of 24 Wistar rats were grouped into 4 groups. The group 1 rats served as control, group 2, 3 and 4 rats received oral doses of Imidacloprid (@ 10 mg/Kg body weight), Chlorpyrifos (@ 7.5 mg/Kg body weight) and IMI+CPF (@ 10 mg/Kg body weight + 7.5 mg/Kg body weight) respectively for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the serum and kidney were collected for analysis. The serum levels of BUN and Creatinine were increased from group 1 to group 4. The Total Protein and albumin levels were decreased from group 1 to group 4. The rate of increase and decrease was further pronounced in group 4 rats. There was an increase in TBARS and a decrease in GSH, SOD values from group 1 to group 4 in tissue homogenates of kidney. Gross examination revealed severe congestion of kidneys in group 4 rats. Microscopically, kidney sections of group 2 rats revealed tubular dilatation and epithelial degeneration. Group 3 rats showed an increase in intertubular space and round cell infiltration. Group 4 rats showed marked inter and intra-tubular vacuolation, nuclear degenerations and distortion in the tubular structure.

In conclusion, the study suggested that IMI and CPF in combination and alone could be responsible for cellular alteration in kidneys supported by serum and tissue biochemistry, and histopathology and the toxicity was more pronounced in group 4 than in groups 2 and 3.