ASBTRACT
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The vaccine used in this study was the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
This study was designed to investigate the changes induced by a Covid-19 vaccine on the kidney in a rat model. Thirty adult Wistar rats weighting between 157g to 318g were randomly assigned into six groups of five rats each. Groups; A, B, C, D, E & F. Group A served as Control while Group B, C, D, E, & F served as treatment groups.
Group A were administered 0.2ml of Sterile Injection water; Group B, C, D, & E were intramuscularly vaccinated with 0.5ml of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine respectively. While Group F was vaccinated with 0.5ml Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and also induced with 0.4ml of Alloxan.
At the end of the experiment, which lasted for 90days. The animals were sacrificed their kidney were harvested and immediately fixed in 10% of formal saline for tissue processing. Haematoxylin and Eosin stains were used for the histological staining
The result revealed that there was significant difference in body weight and renal weight in the Subchronic group and Subacute group respectively. There was also significant difference observed in the renosomatic index in the Subacute group compared to the control group. There was significant increases in Na+, K+, Cl+, Creatinine and Urea in the Acute, Subacute and Diabetic groups respectively.
There was also significant increases in the total protein level and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the Subacute, Subchronic, Chronic and Diabetic groups.
Results also showed there was significant increase in Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the Acute, Subacute and Chronic group while significant decreases were observed in the Subchronic and Diabetic group. There was significant increase in Glutathione (GSH) in the Acute, Subacute and Chronic group while significant decreases were observed in the Subchronic and Diabetic group. There was significant increase in Superoxide dismutase (SOD) level observed in the Acute and Subacte group while significant decreases were observed in the Subchronic and Diabetic group. There was significant increase in Catalase (CAT) observed in the Acute and Subacute groups.
Histologically, there was maintenance of normal tissue histology in groups administered only Oxford Astra-Zeneca. The Group treated with Alloxan and Oxford Astra-Zeneca showed contracted glomerular nodules and patchy areas of tubular necrosis, which are worsening complications of diabetes mellitus.
In conclusion, from the results of this research, it is paramount to emphasize that the Covid-19 vaccine had no negative effect on non-immunocompromised rats which were the Acute, Subacute, Subchronic and Chronic groups. However, the vaccine caused major complications on the immunocompromised rats in the diabetic group.
