Induction of renal damage in rats by a diet deficient in antioxidants

Abstract

Male albino rats. age 28 days, were fed a diet containing both vitamin E (10 g/kg) and selenium (5 mg/kg) or a diet lacking these antioxidants. Animals were examined for renal function after 4, 8, 12 and 16 wk on the respective diets. After 8 wk, animals on the deficient diet weighed less than controls (15%, p<0.01), and this became more pronounced by 16 weeks (25%, p<0.01). Expressed on a body weight basis, kidney wet weights did not differ between the two groups of animals. Urine volume increased in the animals fed the deficient diet at 8 weeks (66%, p<0.01) and this was maintained at 16 weeks (35%, p<0.01). Similar increases were observed for the rates of excretion of urinary total protein (77% elevation at 16 wk, p<0.01) and urinary acid phosphatase (51% elevation, p<0.01). At 16 wk, the specific activity of renal acid phosphatase in the animals given the deficient diet was reduced in cortex (57%, p<0.01) and medulla (20%, p<0.01), but not in papilla. These data indicate that dietary antioxidant deficiency causes progressive and pronounced renal damage.