Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To explore effects of intramuscular injection of glycerol on kidneys,the main blood storage organ,of rats. METHODS:Twenty-four healthy adult SPF SD rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into four groups of six rats per group:control and test groups for each sex. After 24 hours of water deprivation,rats were given either normal saline or 50% glycerol normal saline at the dose of 10 mL/kg. After another 24 hours,anesthesia was performed and blood was collected through the abdominal aorta. The kidney,liver and spleen were removed surgically and examined for pathological damage. Urine samples were collected from their metabolic housing and examined for serum biochemistry,blood routine,urine routine and hemagglutination. RESULTS:The results showed that albumin (ALB) and red blood cell (RBC) in the glycerol male and female groups were reduced significantly (P<0.05),while creatinine (Crea),urea nitrogen (Urea),alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and platelet (PLT) were increased significantly (P<0.05). Total protein (TP) and specific gravity of urine (SG) of female animals in the glycerol group were reduced significantly,while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was increased significantly (P<0.05). Pathological results showed that the renal tubules in the experimental groups were dilated,including clear tube type and protein tube type. The hepatic sinuses were dilated and the renal injury was the most obvious. CONCLUSION:Intramuscular injection of glycerol not only caused kidney damage,but also caused slight liver damage. In this glycerol-induced acute renal injury model,the degree of renal injury in male rats was lower than that in female rats.

Key words: glycerol, kidney injury, acute injury, gender differences, physiological index