Some physiological and histological aspects of the gastrointestinal tract in a mouse model of chronic renal failure.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that mice with 5/6 nephrectomy- induced chronic renal failure (CRF) have reduced gastrointestinal transit (GIT) and increased fecal moisture content (FMC). We have recently shown that feeding adenine (0.2%, w/w) to mice can be used as a model of CRF. Here, we investigated the possible effects of adenine-induced CRF on several in vivo and in vitro aspects of GIT physiology and histology of the stomach, duodenum, ileum and colon in mice.


METHODS
The effects of CRF induced by feeding adenine (0.2%, w/w for 2 or 4 weeks) on the gastric emptying index (GEI), GIT, FMC and bead expulsion test (BET) were investigated. GIT was measured by the charcoal meal test and GEI by the difference between full and empty stomach weights. Fresh and dried feces were weighed to calculate the FMC. Renal function was assessed histologically, and biochemically in plasma and urine. The light microscopic histology of the different parts of the gut, as well as the in vitro contractility of the isolated ileum was also assessed.


RESULTS
Feeding adenine for 2 or 4 weeks resulted in CRF. The BET was significantly increased in mice given adenine for 2 but not 4 weeks, while the GEI was significantly increased in mice treated with adenine for 4 but not 2 weeks. No significant differences between control and adenine-treated mice were found in GIT, FMC or the histology of the different parts of the gut. Acetylcholine-induced contractions of the ileum of adenine-treated rats were not significantly different from those of the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Feeding adenine for either 2 or 4 weeks resulted in CRF, but it would appear that this model produces effects on the gastrointestinal tract that are milder than those reported before in animal models with 5/6 nephrectomy-induced-CRF.
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. Electronic address: alibadreldin@hotmail.com.
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Ali
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
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Madanagopal
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
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Ramkumar
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
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Boudaka
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman.
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Tageldin
Department of Physiology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Nemmar
D000225:Adenine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D000225:Adenine
Adenine; Chronic renal failure; Gastric emptying transit time; Gastrointestinal tract; Mice