Detection of intrarenal microstructural changes with supersonic shear wave elastography in rats
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Updated: May 30, 2026
Early Detection of Drug-Induced Renal Hemodynamic Dysfunction Using Sonographic Technology in Rats
Published on: March 11, 2016
Marc Derieppe1, Yahsou Delmas, Jean-Luc Gennisson
1Laboratory for Molecular and Functional Imaging, from Physiology to Therapy, FRE 3313 CNRS & University Bordeaux Segalen, Bordeaux, France. marc.derieppe@gmail.com
Objectives:
To evaluate, in a rat model of glomerulosclerosis, whether ultrasonic shear wave elastography detects kidney cortex stiffness changes and predicts histopathological development of fibrosis.
Materials And Methods:
Three groups were studied transversally: a control group (n = 8), a group after 4 weeks of L-NAME administration (H4, n = 8), and a group after 6 weeks (H6, n = 15). A fourth group was studied longitudinally (n = 8) before, after 4 weeks and after 7 weeks of L-NAME administration. Shear modulus of renal cortex was quantified using supersonic shear imaging technique. Urine was analysed for dosage of protein/creatinine ratio. Kidneys were removed for histological quantification of fibrosis.
Results:
Diseased rats showed an increased urinary protein/creatinine ratio. Cortical stiffness expressed as median (interquartile range) was 4.0 kPa (3.3-4.5) in control kidneys. It increased in all but one pathological groups: H4: 7.7 kPa (5.5-8.6) (p < 0.01); H6: 4.8 kPa (3.9-5.9) (not significant); in the longitudinal cohort, from 4.5 kPa (3.1-5.9) to 7.7 kPa (5.9-8.3) at week 4 (p < 0.05) and to 6.9 kPa (6.1-7.8) at week 7 (p < 0.05). Stiffness values were correlated with the proteinuria/creatininuria ratio (r = 0.639, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Increased cortical stiffness is correlated with the degree of renal dysfunction. More experience in other models is necessary to understand its relationship with microstructural changes.
