Journal of Nutrition Animal Diets/Enrichment Products...

Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Nutrition Vol. 108 No. 3 March 1978, pp. 434-446
Copyright © 1978 by American Society for Nutrition
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Keith, M. O.
Right arrow Articles by Tryphonas, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Keith, M. O.
Right arrow Articles by Tryphonas, L.

Choline Deficiency and the Reversibility of Renal Lesions in Rats1

Murray O. Keith and Leander Tryphonas2

Bureaus of Nutritional Sciences and Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health & Welfare Canada, ,2 Ottawa, Canada K1A 0L2

A transient choline deficiency was induced in young rats subsequently fed a nutritionally complete purified diet during recovery periods of 0 to 119 days. The purpose was to investigate the pathomorphology of the renal lesions and relate this to observed biochemical changes. Acute renal lesions consisting of tubular epithelial cell necrosis and tubulorrhexis were observed in rats immediately after the insult. Chronic renal lesions consisting of interstitial nephritis and scarring were observed 28 to 119 days after the insult; these lesions were qualitatively similar at all times but showed a healing trend as the recovery period lengthened. Kidney and liver weights, liver fat concentration, and serum urea nitrogen concentration were higher in treated rats than in control rats at 0 days (no recovery period allowed) but treatment effects at all other times were minor. Significant changes occurred in serum phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations and in the phenylalanine to tyrosine ratios after recovery periods of 0, 42 and 84 days. It was concluded that the proximal convoluted tubule was most seriously affected and that the chronic lesions represent a potential threat to kidney function in a stress situation. Some implications for human nutrition are discussed.

KEY WORDS: • choline deficiency • renal histology • rat

1 Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies. Halifax, Nova Scotia. June, 1976.

2 Division of Toxicology, Section of Pathology.

Manuscript received 8 April 1977.




Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]