Oxidative stress occurs in absence of hyperglycaemia and inflammation in the onset of kidney lesions in normotensive obese rats

Background. Several factors favour the development of kidney lesions. We ex amined the role of oxidative stress in the onset of renal alterations that occur in Zucker obese (ZO) fa/fa rats. Methods. Kidney structure, biological data, glycation parameters, advanced glycation end products (AGE), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBAR S), circulating antibodies anti-malondialdehyde (MDA)modified low-density l ipoprotein (LDL), antioxidant defenses (Cu/Zn and Mn superoxide dismutase ( SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, glutathione level) , were determined in plasma and/or kidney of young and old ZO rats and lean (ZL) Fa/fa littermates. Results. Renal lesions and functional decline appeared at 3 months in hyper lipidaemic, hyperinsulinaemic, normotensive ZO rats, independently of any m acrophage-ED1+-cell infiltration. At 6 months and thereafter, kidney lesion s and functional impairment worsened while numerous ED1+-cells invaded the interstitium. At 3 and 9 months, TBARS level in the LDL/very low-density li poprotein fraction and in the kidney was higher in ZO than in ZL rats. Anti -MDA-LDL antibodies were increased in ZO rats. At 3 months, renal activity of Cu/Zn SOD was higher, and activities of catalase and GPx lower in ZO tha n in ZL rats, leading to an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). At 9 months, a decrease in Cu/Zn SOD activity and an increase in glutathione lev el were observed. Blood glucose and glycated proteins, as well as AGE in ki dney, remained similar in both ZL and ZO rats, whatever their age. Conclusion. These data suggest that oxidative stress triggers, at an early age, the onset of kidney lesions and functional impairment in ZO rats, in a bsence of hyperglycaemia, hypertension and inflammation.