Korean J Urol.  2007 May;48(5):536-541. 10.4111/kju.2007.48.5.536.

Protective Effects of Cranberry on Infection-induced Oxidative Renal Damage in a Vesicoureteral Reflux Rabbit Model

• Kim SH
• Han CH
• Kang SH

• KMID: 2061260
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2007.48.5.536

Abstract

PURPOSE: We evaluated the protective effects of cranberry, which is known as a fruit with anti-oxidative effects, on infection-induced oxidative renal damage with using a rabbit vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
New Zealand male rabbits were divided into 5 groups (the control group, VUR group, E. coli group, cranberry group and melatonin group). VUR was created and confirmed at 2 weeks after the operation. Infection was induced by intravesical instillation of an E. coli suspension. Cranberry powder was supplied with the feed. Melatonin was injected into the peritoneal cavity. The rabbit kidneys were obtained 3 weeks after the operation. Histopathologic examination was performed to evaluate for inflammation, fibrosis and the tubular change. The oxidative renal damage was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) in the renal tissue.
RESULTS
Grossly, the refluxing kidney was larger than the contralateral normal kidney and the refluxing ureter was dilated and tortuous. The microscopic observation of the kidneys from the E. coli group showed apparent periglomerular mononuclear cell infiltration, tubular dilatation and atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. The kidneys from the reflux group, cranberry group and melatonin group showed mild mononuclear cell infiltration without interstitial fibrosis. The MDA level in the kidneys of the E. coli group was significantly higher than that in the control, cranberry and melatonin groups (p<0.05). The MDA level in the cranberry and melatonin groups didn't significantly differ from that in the sterile group.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that cranberry has an anti-inflammatory effect due to an anti-oxidative function and it may prevent infection-induced oxidative renal damage. But application of cranberry in children with VUR needs more clinical studies.

Keyword

Vesico-ureteral reflux; Reactive oxygen species; Cranberry; Kidney; Injury

MeSH Terms

Administration, Intravesical
Atrophy
Child
Dilatation
Fibrosis
Fruit
Humans
Inflammation
Kidney
Male
Malondialdehyde
Melatonin
New Zealand
Peritoneal Cavity
Rabbits
Reactive Oxygen Species
Ureter
Vaccinium macrocarpon*
Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*
Malondialdehyde
Melatonin
Reactive Oxygen Species

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Kidneys obtained 3 weeks after operation. (A) Control (sham) group: there is no histologic changes and inflammation. (B) VUR group: mild mononuclear cell infiltration is seen. (C) Cranberry group: mild to moderate mononuclear cell infiltration is seen. (D) Melatonin group: there are similar histologic findings compared with the VUR group and the cranberry group (E), (F) E. coli group: periglomerular mononuclear cell infiltration and tubular dilatation with atrophy are seen. Marked mononuclear cell infiltration and interstitial fibrosis are seen (each group shows similar histologic findings) (H&E, scale bar=100 µm, ×200). VUR: vesico-ureteral reflux.

• 

  Fig. 2 Mean MDA values in each group. These graphs show the anti-oxidative effect of melatonin and cranberry. (A) The MDA level of the E. coli group is higher than that of the control and VUR groups. (B) The MDA level of the cranberry group and the melatonin group is lower than that of the E. coli group. MDA: malondialdehye, VUR: vesico-ureteral reflux. *: p<0.05 compared with the other group.

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