RENAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL-WITHDRAWAL IN 5-WEEK ALCOHOL-TREATED RATS

Objective: The effects of alcohol withdrawal on renal function followi ng renal ischemia was examined in rats fed a liquid containing ethanol for 5-week alcohol treatment. Method: For alcohol-treated rats, anima ls were fed with an ethanol-containing diet for 5 weeks. In withdrawal studies, the alcoholic diet was replaced by a regular diet following 5-week alcohol treatment. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping the r enal artery for 20 minutes and renal function was evaluated 24 hours l ater. Results: Alcohol ingestion for 5 weeks did not alter the renal f unction in the absence of renal ischemia. Mean (+/- SD) glomerular fil tration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow rate (RPFR) measured 24 hours after ischemia in control rats were 430 +/- 29.6 mu l/min/g/kidney we ight (gKW) and 1.4 +/- 0.17 ml/min/gKW, whereas in alcohol-treated rat s, they were 117.2 +/- 35.2 mu l/min/gKW and 0.31 +/- 0.12 ml/min/gKW, which values were significantly lower than controls (p < .05). Howeve r, when alcohol was withdrawn for 1 week, the renal function of rats a fter ischemia was no different from that of control rats (GFR = 413.9 +/- 66.3 mu l/min/gKW and RPFR = 2.14 +/- 0.7 ml/min/gKW). As for rena l histopathology, tubular damage was milder 1 week after alcohol withd rawal compared to that observed in rats fed the alcohol-containing die t for 5 weeks. Conclusions: The findings suggest renal damage induced in rats by exposure to alcohol for 5 weeks was reversed when alcohol w as withdrawn for 1 week before renal ischemia.