EFFECT OF ALFUZOSIN ON ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND AMMONIUM CHLORIDE INDUCED UROLITHIASIS IN MALE RATS

Urolithiasis is the most prevalent urinary tract disorder in males. Alfuzosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic α1a adrenoceptor, causing relaxation of smooth muscle in the bladder and prostate, which results in an improvement of urine flow and prevents ureter stones. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Alfuzosin on rats as a preventive and curative agent against the development of urolithiasis. Urolithiasis was induced by oral administration of 0.75% v/v ethylene glycol and 2% w/v ammonium chloride in drinking water for 15 days in rats. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria and a significant (p<0.001) increased in urinary calcium, phosphate, and serum creatinine, uric acid levels. By oral administration of Alfuzosin at the dose of 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg for 15 days as a preventive regimen and from 8^th day to 15^th day as a curative regimen, significantly (P<0.01) reduced the calcium, phosphate, creatinine and uric acid levels in rats. The histopathological studies showed the disrupted renal parenchyma, degenerative changes in glomeruli, calcification in glomerulo tubular structures, and microcrystal deposition were observed in the section of the kidney from animals treated with ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride. This was reduced after treatment with Alfuzosin. These observations enable us to conclude that Alfuzosin as preventive and curative effects against ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride-induced urolithiasis in rats.