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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
Catecholamines production by kidney tissue and mesangial cell culture is differentially modulated by diabetes
Roseli Peres Moreira1, Nadia S C Bertoncello2, Juliana Almada Colucci1
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Medicina, Disciplina de Nefrologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Introduction:
According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes mellitus may reach 700 million in 2045. Catecholamines are involved in the regulation of several kidney functions. This study investigates the effects of hyperglycemia on catecholamines' metabolism in kidney tissue from control, diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic rats, both in vivo and in vitro.
Methods:
Male Wistar-Hannover rats were randomized into: control, diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin, and diabetic treated group also received insulin. After 60 days, blood and kidney tissue from all groups were collected for catecholamines' quantification and mesangial cells culture.
Results:
diabetic rats had lower body weight, hyperglycemia, and increase water intake and diuresis. Additionally, diabetes promoted a sharp decrease in creatinine clearance compared to control group. Regarding the whole kidney extracts, both diabetic groups (treated and non-treated) had significant reduction in norepinephrine concentration. In mesangial cell culture, catecholamines' concentration were lower in the culture medium than in the intracellular compartment for all groups. Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine medium levels were increased in the diabetic group.
Conclusion:
The major finding of the present study was that 8 weeks of diabetes induction altered the kidney catecholaminergic system in a very specific manner, once the production of catecholamines in the excised kidney tissue from diabetic rats was differentially modulated as compared with the production and secretion by cultured mesangial cells.
Insights
Diabetes significantly alters kidney catecholamine metabolism, impacting norepinephrine levels in whole kidney tissue and mesangial cells. Insulin treatment did not fully restore these changes in diabetic rats.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health concern, potentially affecting 700 million people by 2045.
- Catecholamines play a crucial role in regulating kidney functions.
- Hyperglycemia's impact on kidney catecholamine metabolism requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of hyperglycemia on catecholamine metabolism in rat kidney tissue.
- To compare catecholamine levels in vivo and in vitro in control, diabetic, and insulin-treated diabetic rats.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar-Hannover rats were divided into control, diabetic (streptozotocin-induced), and insulin-treated diabetic groups.
- Kidney tissue and blood were collected after 60 days for catecholamine quantification.
- Mesangial cells were cultured for in vitro analysis.
Main Results:
- Diabetic rats exhibited lower body weight, hyperglycemia, increased water intake, and reduced creatinine clearance.
- Norepinephrine concentration was significantly reduced in whole kidney extracts of both diabetic groups.
- In mesangial cell cultures, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine levels increased in the medium of the diabetic group.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes induction significantly alters the kidney's catecholaminergic system.
- Catecholamine production and secretion by cultured mesangial cells differ from whole kidney tissue in diabetic rats.
- Insulin treatment did not fully normalize the observed alterations in kidney catecholamine metabolism.
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