Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
09:16
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Glomerular structure and function in diabetic nephropathy. Early to advanced stages
R Osterby1, H H Parving, E Hommel
1Electron Microscopical Diabetes Research Laboratory, University Institute of Pathology, Arhus C, Denmark.
Diabetes
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Diabetic kidney disease severity in patients with persistent albuminuria correlates with structural kidney damage. Glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria show significant links to basement membrane thickness and filtration surface area.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Diabetology
- Pathology
Background:
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) frequently leads to diabetic nephropathy.
- Persistent albuminuria is a key indicator of kidney damage in diabetic patients.
- Understanding the relationship between clinical parameters and kidney structure is crucial for managing diabetic kidney disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between clinical markers of kidney function and structural changes in kidney biopsies of diabetic patients.
- To assess the relationship between urinary albumin excretion (UAE), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), blood pressure (BP), and histological features of diabetic nephropathy.
Main Methods:
- Kidney biopsies from 14 patients with IDDM and persistent albuminuria were analyzed using light and electron microscopy.
- Clinical parameters including UAE, GFR, and BP were measured.
- Structural lesions such as basement membrane (BM) thickness, mesangial expansion, and glomerular occlusion were quantified.
Main Results:
- The overall severity of clinical nephropathy correlated significantly with structural lesions (r=0.62, 2P<0.05).
- GFR showed a strong correlation with glomerular filtration surface (FS) (r=0.72, 2P=0.004).
- UAE correlated with the percentage of BM surface showing specific fine structure alterations (r=0.62, 2P=0.02); BP did not correlate with structural parameters.
Conclusions:
- Clinical indicators of diabetic nephropathy severity are closely linked to specific structural changes in the glomeruli.
- Compensatory changes in glomerular capillaries occur, maintaining filtration surface area even with increased mesangial expansion.
- Glomerular volume is influenced by early diabetic hypertrophy and subsequent pathological changes.
Related Concept Videos
01:45Kidney Structure
The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
01:10Nephrons
The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma happens...
01:20Renal Corpuscle
The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:22Diabetic Neuropathy
DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...