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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
An Effective Mouse Model of Unilateral Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Published on: July 15, 2021
Robust Rat and Mouse Models of Bilateral Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Tanya Smith1,2, Aeliya Zaidi3,4, Charlotte Victoria Maynard Brown3,4
1Wales Kidney Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, U.K.; smithta3@cardiff.ac.uk.
Background/Aim:
Acute and chronic kidney diseases are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide, with no specific treatments currently available for these. To enable understanding the pathophysiology of and testing novel treatments for acute and chronic kidney disease, a suitable in vivo model of kidney disease is essential. In this article, we describe two reliable rodent models (rats and mice) of efficacious kidney injury displaying acute to chronic kidney injury progression, which is also reversible through novel therapeutic strategies such as ischemic preconditioning (IPC).
Materials And Methods:
We utilized adult male Lewis rats and adult male wildtype (C57BL/6) mice, performed a midline laparotomy, and induced warm ischemia to both kidneys by bilateral clamping of both renal vascular pedicles for a set time, to mimic the hypoxic etiology of disease commonly found in kidney injury.
Results:
Bilateral ischemia reperfusion injury caused marked structural and functional kidney injury as exemplified by histology damage scores, serum creatinine levels, and kidney injury biomarker levels in both rodents. Furthermore, this effect displayed a dose-dependent response in the mouse model.
Conclusion:
These rodent models of bilateral kidney IRI are reliable, reproducible, and enable detailed mechanistic study of the underlying pathophysiology of both acute and chronic kidney disease. They have been carefully optimised for single operator use with a strong track record of training both surgically trained and surgically naïve operators.
Insights
Researchers developed reliable rodent models for studying acute and chronic kidney disease progression and reversibility. These models aid in understanding kidney injury pathophysiology and testing new treatments like ischemic preconditioning (IPC).
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Translational Medicine
- Animal Models
Background:
- Acute and chronic kidney diseases cause significant global morbidity and mortality.
- Current treatments for kidney disease are limited, necessitating better models for research.
- Understanding kidney disease pathophysiology is crucial for developing effective therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reliable rodent models for studying acute to chronic kidney injury.
- To demonstrate the progression and reversibility of kidney injury in these models.
- To facilitate the testing of novel therapeutic strategies, such as ischemic preconditioning (IPC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized adult male Lewis rats and C57BL/6 mice.
- Induced warm ischemia to both kidneys via bilateral renal pedicle clamping.
- Mimicked hypoxic etiology common in kidney injury through ischemia-reperfusion.
Main Results:
- Bilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury induced significant structural and functional kidney damage in both rats and mice.
- Kidney injury was assessed using histology scores, serum creatinine, and biomarker levels.
- The injury response in mice showed a dose-dependent relationship with the ischemic period.
Conclusions:
- Developed reliable and reproducible rodent models for bilateral kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).
- These models enable detailed mechanistic studies of acute and chronic kidney disease.
- Models are optimized for single-operator use and training, supporting broader research application.
