[Effects of long-term ethanol administration on the kidneys, bones and muscles of mice]

Reports on effects of ethanol intake on the kidneys and bones are few. Circulation of blood through the kidneys is large in amount; kidney takes water-soluble exogenous substances and their metabolites in from the blood and accumulates them in the cells and interstitial tissues; in addition kidney plays important roles in producing substances that activate a living body and associating with their functions. The author let male and female ICR mice take 16% ethanol (Sake) ad lib for 472 days beginning at the age of 38 days. Observations were carried out on renal tissues and other organs which have some connection with the renal function. These included bones (femur, knee joint, tibia), muscle (gastrocnemius), 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and erythropoietin (EPO). The results were as follows: Renal tissue observations: Significantly more cases of appearances of basophilic renal tubular, swelling of tubular epithelial cells and urinary casts in tubular lumens, PAS positive deposits in glomerulus, and atrophy of glomerulus were seen in the ethanol groups than in a group used as the control. These occurrences were significantly clear and intensive relative to those in the control. Findings in gastrocnemius: Significantly large number of muscle atrophy, random variation of fiber size and multinucleated fibers were seen. Observations on bones based upon soft X-ray pictures: Bone atrophy, thinning of bone trabeculae, thinning of bone cortex, and porosity of bone cortex were disclosed significantly more than the control. Values of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and EPO were significantly high increased in the ethanol groups relative to the control. Through the above-mentioned results, it has been supposed that ethanol intake affects kidney tissues and consequently affects bones and muscles.