Post-unilateral Nephrectomy Administration of Alcohol Escalates Kidney Oxidative Stress of Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Alcohol has been used in folk medicine to potentiate some health benefits. Although, alcohol was reported to induce renal dysfunction, its activity on kidney tissues is not fully elucidated. However, whether or not alcohol could be beneficial after unilateral nephrectomy is unknown; thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of post-unilateral nephrectomy administration of alcohol on kidney oxidative stress of male Wistar rats with 150 – 210 g-body weight, randomly grouped into four groups and the oxidative stress biomarkers such as lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) determined using kidney tissue homogenates. Nephrectomy and alcohol significantly increased MDA and significantly decreased SOD, CAT and GPx; furthermore, post unilateral nephrectomy administration of alcohol caused advanced significant elevation of MDA as well as advanced significant depletion of SOD, CAT, and GPx of the kidney tissue. This study demonstrated for the first time that post-unilateral nephrectomy intake of alcohol enhances kidney oxidative stress by increasing kidney lipid peroxidation (MDA) and inhibiting its antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx); forming basis for campaigning against alcohol intake after unilateral nephrectomy as well as folk treatment with alcohol which may involve an individual that underwent nephrectomy.