Sains Malaysiana 48(8)(2019): 1721–1728

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4808-18

Effects of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid on Renal Function and Structure in Rats

(Kesan Melamina dan Asid Sianurik kepada Fungsi dan Struktur Ginjal pada Tikus)

SARANYA PEERAKIETKHAJORN¹*, NAWIYA HUIPAO² & SIRIPHUN HIRANYACHATTADA^2,3

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

²Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

³School of Pharmacy, Walailak University, Thasala, Nakornsrithammart, 80160, Thailand

Received: 3 February 2019/Accepted: 18 May 2019

ABSTRACT

Melamine has been used to increase the amount of measurable nitrogen which is a component of protein. The renal toxicity of melamine has been reported in infants and animals that consumed a mixture of melamine in their food products. This study aimed to investigate the effects of melamine on rat renal function using clearance and histological techniques. Animals were divided into 3 groups: vehicle control, 400 mg/kg melamine and mixture of 400 mg/kg melamine and 400 mg/kg cyanuric acid (p.o., daily for three days). The results showed that blood urea nitrogen level significantly increased in the rats treated with the mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid. The urine flow rate, glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow and urinary sodium and potassium excretion rate significantly decreased when compared to vehicle control. These results suggested both glomeruli and renal tubules of rats treated with mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid were damaged. Histological study also confirmed these findings and showed significant glomerular atrophy and dilated renal tubules. Numerous clear brownish-yellow crystals were also found in the distal tubule, collecting tubule and papillary duct. However, rats solely treated with melamine showed no significant difference in renal function or structures.

Keywords: Cyanuric acid; histology; melamine; rat; renal clearance

ABSTRAK

Melamina telah digunakan untuk meningkatkan jumlah nitrogen yang boleh diukur yang merupakan komponen protein. Ketoksikan ginjal daripada melamina telah dikesan pada bayi dan binatang yang mengambil campuran melamina dalam produk makanan mereka. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji kesan melamina pada fungsi buah pinggang tikus menggunakan teknik pembersihan dan histologi. Haiwan kajian dibahagikan kepada 3 kumpulan: Kawalan pengangkut, melamina 400 mg/kg serta campuran melamina 400 mg/kg dan 400 mg/kg asid sianurik (p.o., setiap hari selama tiga hari). Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa paras nitrogen darah urea meningkat dengan ketara dalam tikus yang dirawat dengan campuran melamina dan asid sianurik. Kadar aliran kencing, kadar penapisan glomerular, aliran plasma buah pinggang dan kencing natrium dan kadar perkumuhan kalium yang menurun dengan ketara jika dibandingkan dengan kawalan pengangkut. Keputusan ini menunjukkan glomeruli dan tubul buah pinggang tikus yang dirawat dengan campuran melamina dan asid sianurik telah rosak. Kajian histologi juga mengesahkan penemuan ini dan menunjukkan atrofi glomerul yang signifikan dan tubules buah pinggang mengalami dilatasi. Pelbagai kristal berwarna keperangan kuning ditemui dalam tubul distal, tubul pengumpulan dan salur papilari. Walau bagaimanapun, tikus yang dirawat dengan melamina sahaja menunjukkan tiada perbezaan yang signifikan dalam fungsi buah pinggang atau struktur.

Kata kunci: Asid sianurik; histologi; melamina; pembersihan renal; tikus

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*Corresponding author; email: saranya.pe@psu.ac.th