Evaluation of the changes induced by tramadol and the possible protective effect of vitamin C on the kidney

OBJECTIVE: Addiction is a widespread public health problem despite all efforts to prevent and treat it. Over the past few years, tramadol abuse has been sharply increasing in Middle Eastern countries. This research aims to identify the tramadol-induced histological changes in rat kidneys and any potential protective effects of vitamin C on these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study conducted at Prince Sattam bin Abdul Aziz University. Thirty-three adult albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. Control, Tramadol, and vitamin C groups. The Tramadol group received 25 mg/ Kg a day of tramadol orally via gastric gavage for three weeks. In the vitamin C + tramadol treated group, 100 mg/Kg/b.wt of vitamin C was administered intravenously to the animals 30 minutes before receiving the same dose of tramadol RESULTS: Specimens from the kidney of every rat were excised for histological examination by the light and electron microscope. Tramadol damage to the kidney’s glomeruli and proximal and distal convoluted tubule hypertrophy were among its long-term harmful consequences. When vitamin C was added to tramadol, the distal and proximal convoluted tubules, and the renal glomeruli, improved. CONCLUSIONS: When vitamin C was given to the tramadol group, the drug’s harmful effects on the kidney were reduced.