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Published on: July 3, 2013
Age-related pathophysiological changes in rat oligomeganephronic hypoplastic kidney
Hiroetsu Suzuki1, Tsuyoshi Tokuriki, Hideto Kamita
1Department of Veterinary Physiology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonano-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan. hiroetsu@nvau.ac.jp
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|March 31, 2006
Summary
Male hypogonadism in rats causes underdeveloped kidneys with fewer, enlarged nephrons. These rats exhibit worsening polyuria and polydipsia with age, making them a model for human oligomeganephronia.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Male hypogonadism (hgn/hgn) in rats is characterized by oligomeganephronic hypoplastic kidney (HPK).
- HPK kidneys have fewer nephrons (25% of normal) that are significantly hypertrophied.
- These features resemble human oligomeganephronia (OMN).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related renal pathophysiology in HPK rats.
- To assess the suitability of HPK rats as a model for human OMN.
Main Methods:
- Measurements of renal function parameters at multiple ages (70, 140, 210, 280 days).
- Comparison of HPK rats with normal littermates.
- Histopathological examination of kidney tissues.
Main Results:
- HPK rats showed smaller relative kidney weight, increased polyuria and polydipsia with age.
- Creatinine and urinary nitrogen clearance were lower in HPK rats but did not decline with age.
- Advanced age revealed glomerulosclerosis, interstitial infiltration, and tubular cysts with casts in HPK rats.
- Mean blood pressure and proteinuria increased with age in HPK rats.
Conclusions:
- HPK rats exhibit progressive renal dysfunction and pathology with age.
- The observed changes in HPK rats closely mimic human OMN.
- HPK rats serve as a valuable model for studying human oligomeganephronia.
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