The administration of Chlorella vulgaris protects against nefrotoxicity caused by CCl4

Chlorella vulgaris microalgae, is used as nourishment in aquaculture because of its high nutritional content. Recent researches had found anti-oxidative and cito-protective qualities in microalgae of this genus. The aim of this research was to study if cell damage in the kidney induced by intoxication with CCl4 which damages renal tissue, is prevented with the administration of this microalgae. For this, we used 32 male NIH mice, that were divided in 4 groups: a) Control, which received salt solution i.g + Corn-oil (i.p), b) Intoxicated with CCl4 (2.5 mL/Kg) i.p + s.s i.g, c) Chlorella vulgaris (1000 mg/Kg) i.g+ Corn-oil (i.p) and d) Chlorella vulgaris (1000 mg/Kg) i.g + CCl4 i.p. The kidneys were extracted, embeded in paraffin and stained by conventional method H-E. The lipoperoxidation, Catalase, γ-Glutamil transferase were also measured in kidney, and LDH activity in serum. The CCl4 produced glomeruloesclerosis, atrophy, loss of cell continuity and changes in the nuclei - cytoplasm relation in marrow and renal cortex, while Chlorella vulgaris reduced the mortality and kidney morphological damage and the per-oxidation, the increase of the LDH activity and also an increase of the γ-Glutamil transferase is promoted. With these results we conclude that this microalgae is a good citoprotector against CCl4 which causes renal damage.