The effects of reserpine on renal necrosis and urinary catecholamines of choline-deficient rats

Renal necrosis due to a choline-deficient diet was induced in a group of male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats. A control group was given Purina rat chow, and another group was given a choline chloride supplement (150 mg/100 ml in tap water) in addition to the choline-deficient diet. Reserpine, an agent that reduces catecholamines, was given subcutaneously (0.1 mg/kg) daily to one-half of each group. After 16 days the choline-deficient rats given reserpine had significantly less renal necrosis and excreted less catecholamines than choline-deficient rats. Reserpine had no effect on hepatic fatty infiltration due to choline deficiency.