The renotropic effect of ovine luteinizing hormone on subtotally nephrectomized rats

Some of luteinizing hormone (LH) isoforms can stimulate renal growth. The objective of this study is to determine whether the administration of LH modifies subtotal nephrectomy-induced chronic renal failure. Castrated 3/4-nephrectomized male rats were divided into four groups of seven each and fed a low-protein (6%) diet. Ovine LH with renotropic activity (40 micrograms/day) or vehicle only (control) was given for three weeks or six weeks. Compared with controls, remnant kidney weights (% body weight) in LH-treated rats had increased significantly at three weeks (0.385 +/- 0.019 vs 0.443 +/- 0.052, P less than 0.02), but not at six weeks (0.281 +/- 0.004 vs 0.272 +/- 0.013). 24 h creatinine clearance (ml/day/100 g body weight) increased significantly both by three weeks (242 +/- 58 vs 301 +/- 36, P less than 0.05), and six weeks (323 +/- 55 vs 395 +/- 10, P less than 0.01). Urinary thromboxane B2 excretion increased in LH-treated rats, suggesting that hemodynamic changes may play a role in increasing creatinine clearance. Our results suggest that renotropically active oLH stimulated the glomerular function in castrated rats with reduced renal mass. Further study may clarify its clinical usefulness.