The protective effect of taurine and/or vanillin against renal, testicular, and hematological alterations induced by potassium bromate toxicity in rats

Abstract Background Potassium bromate (KBrO3) causes toxicity in humans and experimental animals. The wide exposure to KBrO3 in water disinfection and as a food additive necessitates finding of available antidotes for its hazards as taurine and/or vanillin. Aim The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of taurine and/or vanillin against potassium bromate toxicity on renal, testicular, and hematological parameters in adult male albino rats. Methods For this purpose, 30 rats were divided as follows: control group, rats were fed balanced diet and served as normal control; group 2, rats were fed balanced diet and served as positive control; group 3, rats were fed balanced diet supplemented with taurine (100 mg/kg diet); group4, rats were fed balanced diet supplemented with vanillin (100 mg/kg diet); and group5, rats were fed balanced diet supplemented with taurine and vanillin at the same tested dose for 3 weeks. Groups from 2 to 5 were orally administered a single dose of KBrO3 (100 mg/kg diet) then sacrificed after 48 h. Results Results showed that KBrO3 administration induces testicular damage reflected in a significant decrease in total protein, glycogen, sialic acid with a significant increase in MDA level in testicular tissue. Also, there was a significant decrease in total spermatic count accompanied by an increase in the total number of malformed sperms (head, tail, and head and tail) in the pot bromate intoxicated group. Also, KBrO3 toxicity induce renal damage manifested in a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, and xanthine oxidase activity. Renal TNF-α, IL-6, Hcy, and MDA significantly increased in the pot-bromate intoxicated group. Finally, hematological results showed a significant decrease in Hb%, MCV, RBCs, and WBCs count in the pot-bromate intoxicated group as compared to normal control groups. Histological findings showed that impaired renal and testicular histology was concomitant with biochemical parameters. Conclusion Treatment with taurine and/or vanillin showed a significant ameliorative effect against deleterious effects of pot bromate toxicity on hematological parameters, renal and testicular tissues. Moreover, the recorded improvement of the studied parameters in rats pretreated with taurine and vanillin as antioxidants proves their synergistic effect.