EVALUATION OF PRO- AND ANTI-APOPTOTIC EFFECTS OF “FEARLESS” ENERGY DRINK ON RENAL TISSUES OF ALBINO RATS USING GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS

Abstract

Abstract
The global rise in energy drink (ED) consumption, particularly among young adults in Nigeria, has raised significant concerns regarding their potential long-term nephrotoxic effects. This study investigated the impact of chronic energy drink exposure on renal apoptosis by integrating histopathological evaluation with gene expression analysis in albino rats. Specifically, the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene BAX (B-cell lymphoma–associated X protein) and the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) was examined. Twenty-four albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6 per group): a control group and three treatment groups administered low, medium, and high doses of an energy drink for 60 days. Following treatment, animals were anesthetized with ketamine (50 mg/kg) and euthanized, after which renal tissues were harvested for histopathological assessment and molecular analysis using standard protocols. Chronic energy drink exposure resulted in a dose-dependent upregulation of BAX expression, with fold changes of 2.44, 3.31, and 5.65 in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively. In contrast, BCL-2 expression was markedly downregulated, with corresponding fold changes of 0.68, 0.09, and 0.03. Histological examination revealed prominent dense basophilic concretions within renal tubules, occurring more frequently in treated groups than in controls. The pronounced shift in the BAX/BCL-2 expression balance toward a pro-apoptotic profile suggests enhanced renal apoptotic signaling, a mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, and graft rejection. Furthermore, tubular basophilic concretions may contribute to intrarenal obstruction, impaired urine flow, and increased susceptibility to nephrolithiasis and urinary tract infections. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic evidence that prolonged energy drink consumption may compromise renal structural integrity and cellular survival through apoptosis-mediated pathways.