How was liver/kidney damage evaluated?

For one, you would want a urinalysis in conjunction with serum BUN/Creatinine in order to assess specific gravity (hydration status, urine concentrating ability), proteinuria, etc. Was histopathology performed? Electron microscopy?

Thanks for your attention...

We had histopathological assessment (macroscopic and microscopic evaluation under an optical microscope), measurement of serum enzyme levels including ALT, AST, ALP; and determination of lipid proxidation and GSH content in tissues.

How was the physiological state of the animals? Do they were well hydrated? Do they ate enough food? I ask this, because in cases of malnutrition, increases in creatinine levels were observed without being associated with kidney damage.

You could also assess kidney function calclulating creatinine clearance and determining urinary markers such as NAG enzyme activity or protein excretion of NGAL, KIM-1

Thanks for your attention

Enough food and water were available for animals.

I conclude there might be two reasons:

1- Renal dysfunction

2-pathologic source which could be observed by electron microscope.

I'll be glad to know your ideas.

Also consider that if there was liver disease, you may actually have reduced levels of BUN (assuming normal kidney functions).The liver biomarkers that you are using are useful if there is any hepatocellular or cholestatic liver disease therefore, if other parameters in the liver are affected, than you may not pick it up. From what you are saying i am inclined to think that there is some sort of kidney damage (rather than liver). How did you evaluate kidney damage? Just histology or did you do something else? ALT, AST and ALP are perfect for liver but not for kidney?

Thank you so much for your useful comments.

Histology, BUN and creatinine