The Probable Protective Role of Vitamin C against Cyclosporine an Induced Pulmonary Changes in Mice

 Abstract—Cyclosporine A (Cs-A) is a frequently used immunosuppressive agent in transplant medicine to prevent rejection and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases . Vitamin c is a potent antioxidant that has the ability to scavenge factors causing free radical formation in animals receiving Cs-A . It play a major role in disease prevention. Cs-A induced histological and ultrastructural alterations in the pulmonary tissue. These included congestion and hemorrhage of most blood capillaries, increased number of lymphocytes within the thickened interalveolar septa and destruction of the inner border of the respiratory bronchioles and increase of collagen fibers. Changes were seen in type I& II alveolar cells in the form of vacuolation, increase in the number of lysosomes, shortening of the apical microvilli and irregularity and swollen of the nuclei . Also, an increase in number of macrophages and fragmentation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Most of the main cell types in the alveolar tissue had restored their normal histological and ultrastructural appearance by VC. Conclusion: Antioxidant nutrients (VC) can improve lung histological and ultrastructural damage produced by Cs-A administration.