Decreased Renal Function Induced by High-Fat Diet in Wistar Rat: The Role of Plasma Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2)

Researches on the effects of High Fat Diet (HFD) on decreased renal function with cystatin C (cysC) serum levels biomarker are few and show different findings. Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) plays a key role in controlling renal function and one of the integral components of the RAS is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2). Research on the relationship between plasma ACE2 levels with serum cysC levels in animals induced by HFD has not been done. We hypothesize that administration of HFD can cause a decline in early stage renal function through the role of ACE2. 30 male wistar rats aged 10-12 weeks (body weight between 170-220 grams) were randomly divided into 5 groups (6 rats/group): baseline, normal diet for 8 weeks (ND8), ND for 16 weeks (ND16), HFD for 8 weeks (HFD8) and HFD for 16 weeks (HFD16). Body weight and naso-anal length were measured to get the index value of obesity and body fat percentage. Obesity index measured are lee index, rohrer index and TM index. Blood samples obtained by intracardiac for examination of plasma ACE2 levels and serum cysC levels. After 8 and 16 weeks, HFD increases body weight, obesity index and body fat percentage. HFD also increases plasma ACE2 levels and serum cysC levels. Body weight, obesity index and body fat percentage have a positive correlation with plasma ACE2 levels. Plasma ACE2 levels were positively correlated with serum cysC levels. HFD causes a decrease of early stage renal function as evidenced by the increase in serum cysC levels. Plasma ACE2 levels play a role in the pathogenesis of the decline in early stage renal function induced by HFD.