Fig. 6

Photomicrographs of paraffin sections stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) illustrated the protective effect of curcumin (Cur) on diclofenac sodium (DS) induced renal damage in rat. A The kidney of control (Ctrl) group showed normal-sized glomerulus (G) and glomerular capillaries (C). B The kidney of DS group showed small-sized glomerulus (G) and large-sized (widened) glomerular capillaries (C). C The kidney of diclofenac sodium + curcumin (DS + Cur) group showed restoration of the normal-sized glomerulus (G) and glomerular capillaries (C). D The kidney of control (Ctrl) group showed normal proximal tubules with intense PAS-positive brush borders (BB), narrow lumen (blue star) and continuous healthy PAS-positive renal tubular basement membrane (arrow). E The kidney of DS group showed proximal tubules with decreased PAS-positive brush borders (BB), wide lumen (blue star) and disrupted renal tubular basement membrane (arrow). F The kidney of DS + Cur group showed restoration of the normal proximal tubules with intense PAS-positive brush borders (BB), narrow lumen (blue star) and continuous healthy PAS-positive renal tubular basement membrane (arrow). Original magnification X400, scale bar = 50 μm. G and H: Histograms showed that there were no significant changes in the thickness of epithelium and brush borders (respectively) of the proximal tubules in the different groups. I: histogram showed that there was a significant increase in the diameter of the lumen of the proximal tubules in DS group compared to the control group, and oral supplementation of Cur restored the diameter of the lumen of the proximal tubules near to normal. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM (6 mice/group). Data are analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan posttest. ^aindicates significant difference between control and DS groups at p < 0.05; ^bindicates significant difference between DS and DS + Cur groups at p < 0.05