Abstract

The use of ethanol is widespread and its adverse effects have been documented. This study was to investigate the histological changes and sialic acid levels of the developing kidney as a result of oral administration of ethanol for thirty days. Twenty five adult Wistar rats, between 170 and 200 g in weight divided into five groups of five rats each were used for this study. 0.18 to 0.19 ml, 0.17 to 0.20 ml, 0.17 to 0.20 ml and 0.17 to 0.18 ml of ethanol was orally administered daily to the rats in Groups II, III, IV and V respectively and the control Group I  to 0.2 ml of distilled water. The rats were sacrificed, kidneys were fixed in 10% formal saline for histological studies and others homogenised for sialic acid analysis. The results obtained show distortion of the Bowman’s capsule. Karyolytic, karyorrhexic and the cells in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules were in a state of cell death for those animals exposed to ethanol, while those for the control rats appeared normal. The free, bound and total sialic acid levels of the developing kidneys showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05). Ethanol consumption during pregnancy even at lower doses may lead to degenerative changes in the developing kidney.

Key words: Ethanol, karyolytic and karyorrhexic cells, tubules