Effects of Repeated Doses of the Vero Cell Vaccine (SARS-Cov-2 Inactivated Vaccine) on Renal Functions in Balb/C Albino Mice

Abstract

Objective

Many of the vaccines developed for COVID-19 have been approved for clinical emergency use before their safety and preclinical studies have been completed. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine (Vero cells) on renal function in Balb/C Albino mice.

Methods

21 healthy, 6–8 week old BALB/c male mice were divided into three equal groups, and 0.10 mL of intramuscular saline equal to the vaccine dose volume was administered to the first group. To the second group, a single dose of 0.10 mL 120 U of Vero cell inactive SARS COV-2 vaccine was administered intramuscularly. Group 3 received two consecutive doses of 0.10 mL 120 U intramuscular Vero cell inactive SARS COV-2 vaccine, 14 days apart. After administration, the clinical status, fecal and urine status, nutritional status and kidney histopathology of the mice were evaluated.

Results

It was determined that no acute toxic symptoms were observed in the mice administered the vaccine, they were in good condition, and there was no significant stimulatory reaction related to the vaccine in the tissues of the injected local area. There was no difference in feed consumption, water consumption, and body weight gains between the control group, the groups that received a single dose of vaccine, and the groups that received two doses of vaccine (p>0.05). No difference was found between the groups when urine and feces amounts were compared (p>0.05). No difference was found between the groups when urinary urea, creatinine, and serum BUN, creatinine levels were compared (p>0.05). No difference was found in the histopathological evaluation of the kidneys between the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, single or repeated injections of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cells) into mice were found to have no adverse effects on the animals’ overall clinical health, performance abilities and kidneys.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• vaccine
• SARS CoV-2
• adverse effect
• kidney

Ethics Committee

This study was approved by the local ethics committee of Dokuz Eylul University Multidisciplinary Laboratory Animal Experiments (Dokuz Eylul University Multidisciplinary Laboratory Animal Experiments Ethics Committee Decision Form: 0244/29.04.2021).

Animals Guideline

The authors clearly indicate that the National Research Council’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments) have been followed.

Acknowledgments

This article is an original work and was not fully or partially published elsewhere or submitted for publication prior to submission to the journal.

Disclosure

The authors declared no conflict of interest regarding this article.

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received from any institution or person for our study.