Abstract 13533: Impact of Cola Drinking on the Cardiorenal Axis in Rats

Abstract

Introduction. The cardiorenal syndrome is a constellation of interactive cardiac and renal risk factors. We reported that chronic cola drinking induces metabolic syndrome and pro-oxidative metabolism in rats. Hypothesis . To evaluate whether chronic cola drinking affects cardiorenal integrity in relation with oxidative metabolism and local inflammation in rats. Methods. Male Wistar rats drank ad libitum regular cola (C, n=12) or water (W, n=12). Measures/recordings: body weight (weekly), nutritional data (twice a week); at 0 mo and 6 mo: plasma glucose, cholesterol fractions, TG, uric acid, creatinine (enzymocolorimetry), coenzyme Q-10 (RP-HPLC-ED), SBP (plethysmography), echocardiograms (awake rats). At 6 mo euthanasia was performed. The heart and kidneys were excised and processed for histopathology and immunohistochemical IL-6 and TNFα staining. Glomerulosclerosis and histopathology score were semiquantitatively evaluated. ANOVA, Bonferroni t-test, Pearson r, p<0.05 significant. Results. Compared with W, C rats showed: I). overweight (8%, p<0.05), hyperglycemia (11%, p<0.05), hypertriglyceridemia (2-fold, p<0.001), higher atherogenic index in plasma (2-fold, p<0.01), lower Q 10 levels (-55%, p<0.05); II). higher LV diastolic diameter (+9%, p<0.05) and volumes (diastolic 26%, p<0.01; systolic 24%, p<0.05), posterior wall thinning (-8%, p<0.05) and larger cardiac output (24%, p<0.05); III). glomerulosclerosis (21%, p<0.05), higher histopathological score (13%, p<0.05), IL-6 (7-fold, p<0.001) and TNFα (4-fold, p<0.001) expression; IV). Left ventricle dimensions were strongly correlated with IL-6 (74%, r=0.86, p<0.001) and TNFα (52%, r=0.72, p<0.001). Controlling for either or both TG and Q 10 reduced the strength of correlations or nearly abolished them. Conclusions . Cardiac remodeling was associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and renal damage. Cardiorenal association was highly dependent on hypertriglyceridemia and Q10 level. Hypertriglyceridemic lipotoxicity in a context of defective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection due to low Q10 level might be involved in the cardiorenal syndrome induced by chronic cola drinking in rats.