Immunotherapeutic and Cell-Protective Effects of Probiotic Kefir on Cyclophosphamide‐induced Nephrotoxicity and Urotoxicity in Rats

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To evaluate kefir, a naturally occurring fermented dairy product, with pharmacological and therapeutic qualities including antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and nephrotoxicity in rats. For this purpose, experimental rats were divided into 6 groups; control (Group 1), 150 mg/kg CP (Group 2), 5 mg/kg kefir (Group 3), l0 mg/kg kefir (Group 4), 5 mg/kg kefir+150 CP (Group 5), l0 mg/kg kefir+150 CP (Group 6). Since there was no difference in kefirs fermented on different days, kefirs from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days were mixed and given to the rats for 12 days, while CP was given as an only dose and i.p. on the 12th day of the experiment. Histologic evaluations revealed that CP caused toxicity in kidney and bladder. On the other hand, biochemical evaluations showed a significant increase in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cre) levels, which are tissue toxicity markers, and a significant decrease in catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, which are intracellular antioxidant system markers, in the CP-treated experimental group. However, all values were reversed as a result of kefir (5 and 10 mg/kg) treatment. These results showed that kefir is an effective protective agent against CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis and nephrotoxicity.