DEFICIENCIA DE VITAMINA A Y ESTRÉS OXIDATIVO EN RIÑONES DE RATA

BIAGGIO VS, GATICA LV, ALVAREZ SM, OLIVEROS LB, GIMÉNEZ MS

San Luis, Capital (Argentina)

Congreso; XIX Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2001

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Vitamin A is involved in the maintenance, growth and differentiation of tissues. Vitamin A deficiency modifies lipid metabolism in male rat kidneys. Male Wistar rats (age 21 days) were divided into two groups: the vitamin deficient group (-A) which received a free vitamin A diet and the control group (Co) which received the same diet with 8 mg of retynil palmitate/kg diet. Rats were killed, blood was collected and kidneys were obteined and stored at –70 ºC until studied. Kidneys were separated into medulla, cortex and papilla. We analyzed the lipoperoxidation level measuring TBARS in serum and in the different fractions of kidneys, and determined the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Proteins were measured by Biuret. No serum TBARS changes were found, but there was a significant increase in the different fractions of kidneys in the –A group. SOD showed an increased activity in –A rats (in medulla and cortex). We conclude that vitamin A deficiency induces an increase in lipid peroxidation and in the activity of antioxidant defense system in the rat kidney.