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Tropical Journal of Applied Natural Sciences

Trop. J. Appl. Nat. Sci., 2(1): 98-101 (2017)
ISSN: 2449-2043
https://doi.org/10.25240/TJANS.2017.2.1.16

Effect of Formaldehyde Inhalation and Alcohol Consumption on

some Kidney Markers of Albino Rats
Olisah, M.C.*1, Ifemeje, J.C.2, Ilechukwu, O.U.3, Ofor, C.C.1
1Deparment of Medical Biochemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
3Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author’s email: olisemike2007@yahoo.com; +234(0)8038884404

ABSTRACT
Exposure to organic solvents has been known to be harmful to humans. However,
Original Research Article
the toxicity resulting from the additive effect of several organic solvents can exceed
the toxicity of a single solvent. The effect of oral administration of 20% alcohol (10
ml/kg BW) and formaldehyde inhalation on kidney markers of albino rats were Received: 18th Sept., 2017.
investigated. Twenty one apparently healthy albino rats were randomly subdivided Accepted: 16th Oct., 2017.
into three groups. Group A was fed with normal rat chow while group B and C were Published: 23rd Oct., 2017.
exposed to formaldehyde inhalation chamber under dynamic airflow condition, 8hrs
per day for four weeks. Group C were further given oral administration of 20mg/kg
BW of alcohol. They were sacrificed after 4 weeks and blood samples collected for Keywords:
analyses. Results of the analysis showed a statistically significant difference in some Alcohol;
Formaldehyde;
electrolytes (Na, K and Cl) when compared with the control (P< 0.05). Also, there Electrolytes;
are statistically significant changes in HCO3, urea and creatinine levels of the Urea;
experimental group when compared with the control at P<0.05. When the two Creatinine.
experimental groups (B and C) were compared, there is statistically significant
difference in the biochemical parameters analyzed. These findings indicated that
alcohol consumption in addition to formaldehyde inhalation could have some
deleterious effect on the renal biochemical parameters of albino rats.

INTRODUCTION cause degeneration in the proximal tubules and necrosis in

A large percentage of the human populace is directly or
indirectly exposed to pollutants in the course of their day-to-
day activities. It is generally reported that those who are
occupationally exposed constitute the population at greatest
risk of frequent exposure (Carballo et al., 1994; Rabble and
Wong, 1996). Formaldehyde is one of the most volatile
organic solvents use as a disinfectant in many human
medicines and cosmetics, as antiseptics and embalming
fluids. Millions of workers are exposed to organic solvents
that are used in such products as paints, varnishes, lacquers,
adhesives, glues, degreasing/cleaning agents, and in the
production of dyes, polymers, plastic, textiles, printing inks,
agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals (Nuyts et al.,
1995; Radican et al., 2006). In epidemiological and
experimental animal studies, formaldehyde induce a variety
of toxic effects, especially on liver and kidney tissues after
inhalation. These effects included dose related focal hepatic
enlargement, decreased weight and hepatocellular fatty
degeneration. Prolonged exposure of formaldehyde may
the kidney (Mensing et al., 2002). Morticians are consistently
exposed to formaldehyde during embalmment and most of
these workers may indulge in alcohol consumption due to the
nature of their jobs.
Chronic alcohol consumption has been reported to have
detrimental effect on behavior and cognitive processes such
as learning and memory (Beracochea et al., 1987). Chronic
alcohol consumption has also been reported to produce cell
loss in specific cerebral structures and reduced regional
metabolic activity (Belzunegui et al., 1995). The effects of a
single solvent on kidney have been reported in rats (Harman,
1971; Mensing et al., 2002). In real life people are exposed
to multiple chemicals or organic solvents simultaneously
rather than a single agent, because most chemicals or organic
solvents are the mixtures of several different kinds. Some
solvents potentiates the metabolism of others, while others
inhibit metabolism and thereby increase solvents levels in the
blood and reduce elimination time (Inoue et al, 1988;
Skowroń et al., 2001).

98

Many authors have reported biochemical changes in renal
function of experimental animals with exposure to different
hydrocarbons (Ravnskov, 2005; Kum et al., 2007) the renal
injury of some mixtures of solvents has not been well
documented in animal models. Therefore, this study aims at
evaluating the effect of ethanol ingestion and formaldehyde
inhalation in renal function using rat models.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Acquisition and Acclimatization of Animals
Twenty one adult male albino rats (wistar strain) eight to ten
weeks old, weighing between 140-160g obtained from the
Animal Breeding Unit of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were used for the study. The
animals were kept in clean metal cages under a 12/12hours
light/dark cycle and housed in the animal house of
department of Physiology Anambra State University, Uli.
The rats were allowed to acclimatize to the laboratory
environment for a period of two weeks before
commencement of the experiment. Standard feed and water
were provided ad-libitum. All experimental animals were
handled in accordance with the US National Institutes of
Health Guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.
Rats were housed under standard conditions including
pathogen-free environment and free access to food and water.
They were divided into three groups (seven rats per group).
Group A were fed with normal rat chow and housed in a
closed chamber, (60 X 50 X 40 cm).Group B and Group C
were housed in a separate chambers of the same dimensions
and were exposed to formaldehyde inhalation chamber under
dynamic air flow condition, and its concentration was
adjusted to 150 PPM 8 hrs per day for four weeks. Group C
were further given oral administration of 20 mg/kg BW of
Table 1.Electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels in control and experimental groups
Parameters Control group (A) Experimental group (B)
Sodium (mmol/l) 137.60±4.51 138.20±4.15
Potassium (mmol/l) 5.68±0.80 5.50±0.62
Chloride (mmol/l) 93.20±5.40 96.00±4.00
Bicarbonate (mmol/l) 29.40±1.82 21.40±2.97
Urea (mmol/l) 6.98±1.07 9.26±0.80
Creatinine (µmol/l) 51.80±10.90 141.00±17.22
Results were presented as mean ± SD of triplicate determination; P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
DISCUSSION
Many researchers have examined the role of organic solvent
exposure in a population of individual with
glomerulonephritis (Porro et al., 1992; Stengel et al., 1995).
Also earlier studies have used single chemicals, including
benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde and dichloromethane
to induce renal injury in rats, and observed some
derangements in kidneys of rats with exposure of 4 to 6 weeks
(Harman; 1971; Mensing et al., 2002; González-Yebra et al.,
2006). It is known that the effects of the organic substances
contained in a solvent mixture are additive (Stacey, 1989;
McDermott et al., 2008). Even at a low level of exposure to
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https://doi.org/10.25240/TJANS.2017.2.1.16
alcohol daily simultaneously. After four weeks, the rats were
anaesthetized with chloroform and bled by cardiac puncture.
The blood was transferred to serum separator tubes, allowed
to clot, thereafter, centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2500 rpm.
The sera was carefully removed and placed into clean and
appropriately labelled sample containers and stored frozen
until the time of analysis. Electrolytes were analysed using
ion selective electrode, while urea and creatinine was done
using auto analysers.
All the laboratory analysis was performed at Nnamdi
Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra
State.
Statistical analysis
The mean ± SD of each parameter was taken for each group.
The statistical package for the social science (SPSS) software
version 16.01 was used for the data analysis. Analysis of
variance (ANOVA) was used to test whether or not
significant differences existed between groups. Pair-wise
comparisons were made using the Post hoc test. Test
probability value of P< 0.05 was considered significant.
RESULTS
Table 1 showed the effect of alcohol consumption and
formaldehyde inhalation on some kidney markers of albino
rats for 28 days. Inhalation of formaldehyde in rats caused a
significant increase in electrolytes (Na, K, Cl) and a
significant reduction in Bicarbonate (P<0.05) when
compared with control. Also there is a significant increase in
urea and creatinine (P<0.05). Inhalation of formaldehyde
with administration of 10ml/kg BW of alcohol caused
significant (p<0.05) increase in the electrolytes.
Experimental group (C) p-value
150 ± 4.01 0.032
7.0 ± 0.21 0.020
134 ± 3.24 0.030
12.20 ± 1.60 0.002
18.10 ± 0.96 0.005
201.21± 18.50 0.000
a mixture, the toxicity resulting from the additive effect of
several solvents can exceed the toxicity of a single
solvent (Stacey, 1989).
Some workers are mainly exposed to mixtures composed of
many kinds of organic solvents, it is more meaningful to use
a mixture of several different kinds of organic solvents for
animal model studies. Formaldehyde is often used as
embalming fluids in developing countries and morticians
who are occupationally exposed may also indulge in
alcoholism. The results of our studies have shown that
formaldehyde alone is able to induce severe renal injuries in
99

rats, and may be worse if combined with alcohol as evidenced
by the biochemical alterations in renal functions.
Some mechanisms behind organic solvent-induced
glomerulonephritis have been proposed (Nanez et al., 2005;
Commandeur and Vermeulen, 1990). Chemical damage to
either the pulmonary capillary alveolar basement membrane
or the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) could induce
an antigen-antibody response (Kleinknecht et al., 1980). By
combining with renal proteins, organic solvents may act as
haptens and induce autoimmunity against kidney cells.
Increase in serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine are one of
the primary features seen in renal impairment as these serve
as markers of renal functions. This results is consistent with
other findings that mixtures of organic solvent exceed
toxicity of a single solvent.
CONCLUSION
Results obtained from the studies revealed that a mixture of
organic solvents such as formaldehyde and alcohol could
cause more deleterious effect in kidney than a single solvent
as shown by alterations in biochemical parameters of kidney.
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How to cite this article

Olisah, M.C., Ifemeje, J.C., Ilechukwu, O.U. and Ofor, C.C. (2017). Effect of Formaldehyde Inhalation and Alcohol Consumption on some Kidney Markers
of Albino Rats. Tropical Journal of Applied Natural Sciences, 2(1): 98-101.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.25240/TJANS.2017.2.1.16.

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