Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Stress, which is seen prevalently among people, causes a general situation of tension via damaging the balance of the body. During stress, it is known that, at the first, central systems, like nerve system, heart and blood circulation system, nutritive system, genital systems and adrenalin tissues are also affected. In this study, kidney was histopathologically examined on the rat model in order to investigate how and in what level the kidneys are affected from the stress.

Methods: Eighteen adult Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. Rats were grouped into the 4 group as the control male group (n=4), stress male group (n=4), stress female group (n=4) and control female group (n=4). Chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression was performed to the stress group animals during two weeks. At the end of the test, rats were anesthetized with ketamin HCI. Their kidneys were removed with opening the abdomens and kidney volumes were measured with the water immersion method. After routine histological processing, samples were histopathologically examined under light microscope.

Results: When compared with the control groups, volumes of stress performed kidneys did not change in female rats (P>0.05; independent samples t-test) but kidney volume was significantly decreased in males (P<0.05; independent samples t-test). In the sections of the test group, epithelial outpouring and degeneration and also luminal extension were observed in kidney tubules. Cytoplasmic bulge and vacuoles in epithelial cells of tubule were defined. Once again, when both groups were compared with control groups, puckered glomerulus and extended Bowman space were observed. Also in the epithelium of loop of Henle; cell bulge, vacuolization and degeneration were observed.

Conclusions: In the light of our findings, it is concluded that stress has a negative effects on kidney structure. In this sense, it is thought that functions of kidney can be disordered in stressful people.

Acknowledgement: This study was supported by the 2008/20-numbered Scientific Research Fund of our University.