IgA nephropathy in alcohol abuse. An animal model.

In search of an animal model for alcohol abuse related IgA nephropathy, we investigated the Tsukamoto-French alcoholic rat. Continuous intoxication was induced by gastric infusion of a liquid diet with up to 47% ethanol in Wistar rats designated "alcoholic". Control animals received the same calorie count in the form of glucose. Animals were sacrificed after 6 or 10 weeks. IgA nephropathy was observed in 67% (10 of 15) of alcoholic rats and in none of 14 controls (p less than 0.0002). Alcohol abuse related renal changes, similar to those described in humans were present. These included mild mesangial expansion and intense IgA deposition. Foot process effacement was observed in alcoholic animals; severe proteinuria was found in half the animals with IgA nephropathy. This is the first report of chronic ethanol ingestion induced mesangial IgA nephropathy in an animal model.