Abstract
The present study aimed to identify the possible protective effect of diacerein (DIA) on gentamicin (GNT)-induced parotid toxicity in rats. DIA was administered in the presence and absence of GNT. Thirty-two Wistar adult male rats were randomly arranged into four groups: control, DIA (50 mg/kg/day), GNT (100 mg/kg) and GNT+DIA groups for 8 days. Parotid oxidative stress parameters, besides inflammatory and apoptotic biomarkers, were evaluated. Salivary flow rate, transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRCP1), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in parotid tissue were measured. A parotid histopathological examination and an interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) immunohistochemical study were also performed. GNT significantly increased parotid oxidative stress, inflammatory, apoptotic and CHOP biomarkers with decreased salivary flow rate and TRCP1 level. A histopathological picture of parotid damage and high IL-1β immunoexpression were detected. DIA significantly normalized the distributed oxidative, inflammatory and apoptotic indicators, CHOP and TRCP1, with a prompt improvement in the histopathological picture and a decrease in IL-1β immunoexpression. These results reported that DIA protects against GNT-induced parotid toxicity via modulation of TLR4/NF-κB/IL-1β and TRPC1/CHOP signalling pathways.