First description of alterations of the AQP 2 and 3 expressions in the kidneys of pinealectomized rats

This study aims to investigate renal aquaporins (2 and 3) in the pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin administration. 50 rats were separated into 5 groups: Control, Sham Pinealectomy (Sham PiX), Melatonin (MLT), Pinealectomy (PiX), and PiX+MLT groups. PiX included groups operated on the first day of the experiment. The MLT groups received intraperitoneal MLT (10 mg/kg for 30 days) injections. At the end of 30 days, the kidneys of the rats were removed, and histometrical, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and qPCR analyses were performed. AQP 2 and 3 water channels had the highest expressions in the PiX group while experiencing the lowest levels in the MLT group for both immunohistochemical and qPCR results (P˂0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels showed an increase in the renal tissue, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthation (GSH) levels decreased in the PiX group (P˂0.05). Glomerulus diameters of the PiX group showed substantial reduction compared to other groups while renal corpuscule diameters were found to be greater (P˂0.05). Pinealectomy results in elevated expressions of Aquaporin 2 and 3 in renal tissue, as evidenced by both immunohistochemistry analysis and qPCR data. The pinealectomy group has elevated levels of MDA, IL-1β, BUN, and creatinine, while exogenous melatonin treatment leads to a reduction in GSH and SOD levels in renal tissue.