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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Modeling Human Diabetic Kidney Disease by Combining Hyperglycemia and Hypertension in a Transgenic Rodent Model
Carolynn Cairns1, Bryan Conway2
1Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract:
Traditional animal models mimic only the earliest stages of human diabetic nephropathy (DN), which limits their utility to dissect the pathogenesis of progressive disease or test novel therapeutics. In this chapter we describe in detail the experimental procedures required to conduct the Cyp1a1mRen2 rodent model, in which hyperglycemia and renin-dependent hypertension synergize to promote moderate proteinuria, renal fibrosis, and induction of many of the transcriptomic changes observed in the kidney of patients with progressive DN.
Insights
The Cyp1a1mRen2 rodent model offers a new way to study diabetic nephropathy (DN) progression. This model mimics key aspects of human DN, aiding research into disease causes and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Translational Medicine
- Animal Models
Background:
- Traditional animal models inadequately represent advanced human diabetic nephropathy (DN).
- This limitation hinders the study of progressive DN pathogenesis and therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the experimental procedures for the Cyp1a1mRen2 rodent model.
- To establish a model that mimics key features of progressive human DN.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the Cyp1a1mRen2 rodent model.
- Inducing hyperglycemia and renin-dependent hypertension.
Main Results:
- The model exhibits moderate proteinuria and renal fibrosis.
- Transcriptomic changes in the kidney mirror those seen in human progressive DN patients.
Conclusions:
- The Cyp1a1mRen2 model effectively replicates key aspects of progressive diabetic nephropathy.
- This model is valuable for investigating DN pathogenesis and evaluating novel therapeutics.
