Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Model for Investigating Kidney Interstitial Fibrosis
Published on: April 25, 2025
Increased TGF-alpha and EGF Receptor mRNA expression in response to neonatal unilateral partial ureter obstruction in
Mustafa Vakur Bor1, Ymin Shi, Boe S Sorensen
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, NBG, Aarhus Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. vakurbor@hotmail.com
Aim:
To evaluate the potential role of members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family in altered renal growth caused by partial ureteral obstruction in the developing obstructed and non-obstructed kidneys.
Methods:
During anesthesia either the upper fourth (n = 6-7) or the upper two-thirds of the left ureter (n = 6-7) were embedded into the psoas muscle in newborn rats resulting in mild or severe partial unilateral obstruction, respectively, which was maintained during the following 24 weeks. Sham-operated control rats were prepared in parallel (n = 6-7). Real time PCR assays were used to quantify mRNA encoding EGF, TGF-alpha, HB-EGF and EGF receptor. The expression of ribosomal RNA was determined to relate the specific mRNA expression of members of the EGF system.
Results:
Relative expression of TGF-alpha and EGF receptor mRNA levels were elevated significantly both in the severe and mild obstructed kidney compared with the contralateral or sham-operated kidneys after 24 weeks of obstruction. However, the expression of neither EGF nor HB-EGF was changed after obstruction.
Conclusion:
The increased expression of TGF-alpha and its receptor in the obstructed kidney might be related to a cell-survival function in the affected cells possibly by protecting them from entering apoptosis.
