Assessing Renal and Systemic Manifestations in Rats with Food-Induced Allergic Reactions

This study aimed to investigate the renal damage and associated skin and intestinal manifestations in rats with food allergies. An animal model of food allergy was induced via oral administration of ovalbumin. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, lactose, and ovalbumin groups, with a 50-day experimental cycle. Serum levels of IgG4 and IgE were measured for all groups. Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies were detected using immunofluorescence. Skin and intestinal manifestations, as well as renal tissue changes, were observed in histological sections. Statistically significant differences in skin and intestinal manifestations were observed between the ovalbumin group and both the control and lactose groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively), with the lactose group also showing significant differences compared to the control (P < 0.05). The ovalbumin group exhibited a significantly higher serum IgE level compared to the control group (P < 0.001), and a significant difference in serum IgG4 level was noted between the ovalbumin and lactose groups (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the ovalbumin and control groups for IgG4 (P > 0.05). The ovalbumin group had a significantly higher positive rate of anti-GBM antibody expression in glomerular basement membrane sections than the control and lactose groups (P < 0.01). Food-allergic rats exhibited pronounced kidney damage and skin and intestinal manifestations, with acute cases being particularly severe. Timely detection, clear diagnosis, and avoidance of allergenic foods are crucial to prevent further adverse effects on the organism.