Modification by Ethanol and Taurine, Singly and in Combination, of Changes in Indices of Renal Dysfunction Caused by Diabetes in Rats

Abstract

The present study was carried out in diabetic rats to examine the effects of ethanol (EtOH) and taurine (TAU), singly and in combination, in reducing the changes of laboratory test values indicating renal dysfunction. For this purpose, male Sprague-Dawley rats, 250–280 g in weight and in groups of 6, were made diabetic with a single, 60 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin in 10 mM citrate buffer pH 4.5. On day 15 and for the remaining 14 days of the study, the diabetic rats (a) started to drink 5% EtOH in place of water, (b) received a single daily 2.4 mM/kg oral dose of TAU or (c) were allowed to drink 5% EtOH after receiving a dose of TAU. Starting from day 28 and ending on day 29, a 24 h urine sample was collected, its volume was measured, and then used to measure glucose (GLC), total protein (TP) and electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++). Blood samples collected immediately thereafter via cardiac puncture were processed for the plasma fractions which were analyzed for their creatinine (CRT) and urea nitrogen (UN) contents. In comparison to normal (control) rats, diabetic ones showed a higher output of urine (+5.6-fold), a massive increase in plasma GLC (+473%), passed more GLC (+73.8-fold) and TP (+8.2-fold) in the urine, showed higher plasma CRT (+241%) and UN (+74%) levels, a lower plasma UN/CRT ratio (−47%) and a greater output of electrolytes in the urine (by at least twofold). By themselves both EtOH and TAU were found to markedly lower the effects of diabetes, with EtOH generally appearing more effective than TAU. However, the concurrent availability of EtOH and TAU was found to be more protective than either treatment alone.