Chronic chloroquine and ethanol administration causes detrimental renal morphological changes in rats fed low protein

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the microscopic renal changes resulting from the concurrent administration of chloroquine and ethanol, with inadequate dietary protein using rats. Sixty-four rats were randomly distributed into eight groups of eight rats each: control groups on normal protein (NPC) or low protein diet (LPC); chloroquine treatment groups on normal protein (NPQ) or low protein diet (LPQ); ethanol treatment groups on normal protein (NPE) or low protein diet (LPE); concurrent chloroquine and ethanol treatment groups on normal protein (NPQE) or low protein diet (LPQE). Chloroquine in 0.9% normal saline was administered weekly to NPQ, LPQ, NPQE, and LPQE. While NPE, LPE, NPQE and LPQE received 6% ethanol in drinking water ad libitum, NPC and LPC received 0.9% normal saline and plain drinking water. After treatment, routine haematoxylin and eosin stain, Masson's trichrome stain for collagen, kidney volume estimation, glomeruli count, immunofluorescence for aquaporin 2 and urine volume estimation were conducted. The results showed a decreased kidney volume in all the experimental groups compared to the control. There was increased collagen fiber deposition and distortion of renal histology in the experimental groups compared to control. Concurrent administration of chloroquine and alcohol causes distortion of kidney histology and derangements of renal function in the low protein-fed rats and can cause kidney failure.