Structural and ultrastructural renal lesions in rats fed high-fat and high-phosphorus diets

Foods prone to deteriorate renal function are rich in fat and in phosphorus (P), but the interaction between these two factors is not well studied.

Detailed structural and ultrastructural histopathological studies were performed on the kidneys of rats fed different amounts of fat and P: low (4%) fat (LF) and normal (0.6%) P (NP), LF and high (1.2%) P (HP), high (35%) fat (HF) and NP, HF and HP, and HF with low (0.2%) P (LP) for 28 weeks.

Glomeruli of the HF groups showed segmental areas of retraction, sclerosis and thickening of the Bowman's capsule and basal membranes, which were more accentuated in the HF-HP group. Ultrastructural lesions in the glomeruli also were prominent in rats fed HF, particularly in the HF-HP group, and included thickening of the capillary membrane, endothelial damage, mesangial matrix hypercellularity and podocyte effacement. P restriction reduced the severity of endothelial damage, mesangial matrix hypercellularity, thickening of capillary basement membrane and podocyte effacement. The kidneys of rats fed HP showed significant tubular atrophy and dilatation, focal tubular hyperplasia, thickening of the tubular basal membrane, interstitial edema, inflammation and calcification. All groups fed HF also showed tubular lesions that were more prominent in the HF-HP group. P restriction had a beneficial effect on inflammation and calcification.

Intake of both HF and HP damages the kidneys and their noxious effects are additive. HF intake was preferentially associated with glomerular lesions, while lesions related to HP intake were located mainly in the tubuli and in the interstitium.