Effect on endoplasmic reticulum stress of the combined oral contraceptives in the kidney

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of combined oral contraceptive active ingredients, Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, and Ethinyl Estradiol+Drospirenone, on liver histopathological changes and endoplasmic reticulum stress levels. Material and Methods: In the study, 37 Balb/c female mice were used. Mice were randomly divided into the Control, Sham, Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, and Ethinyl Estradiol+Drospirenone groups. The experimental groups were administered with gavage to 8-week-old female mice for 35 days. Kidney tissue sections were applied with Hematoxylin&Eosin, Orcein, Mallory’s Azan, and Periodic Acid-Schiff to detect histopathological changes, and Chop and Grp78 were used to detect Endoplasm Reticulum Stress. Results: Significant loss of microvilli and a decrease in glycogen accumulation were observed in the apical part of some of the proximal tubules of animals in the Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol+Drospirenone groups. The amount of collagen fiber stained with Mallory’s Azan increased in the parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule of the kidney tissues of the Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol+Drospirenone applied groups, but no difference was observed in elastic fibers in all groups. The expression level of Grp78 and Chop proteins in the kidney tubules of female mice given Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol, and Ethinyl Estradiol+Drospirenone was significantly higher compared to the control group. Conclusion: In this study, it was shown that the expression of Grp78 and Chop markers detected in the mouse kidney increased as a result of Drospirenone, Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethinyl Estradiol + Drospirenone administration, thus causing kidney cell apoptosis by inducing ER-dependent death pathway activity