Flavocoxid, a Natural Antioxidant, Protects Mouse Kidney from Cadmium-Induced Toxicity

Figure 6

Ultrastructural organization of the proximal tubules of kidneys from mice of control plus vehicle (0.9% NaCl, 1 ml/kg/day i.p.), control plus flavocoxid (20 mg/kg/day i.p.), CdCl₂ (2 mg/kg/day i.p.) plus vehicle, and CdCl₂ plus flavocoxid groups. (a, b) In both control plus vehicle and control plus flavocoxid-treated mice, the epithelium of the proximal tubules shows a well-preserved brush border, normal intercellular junctions, and elongated mitochondria. (c) In CdCl₂-challenged mice, apical microvilli are short, few, or sometimes absent (arrow), the intercellular spaces are wide (full arrowhead), and the tubular cells show round or swollen mitochondria and cytoplasmic vacuoles (empty arrowhead). (d) In CdCl₂ plus flavocoxid-treated mice, no apparent tubular lesions are present (scale bar: 4 μm).

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