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Updated: May 3, 2026
A Large Animal Model for Acute Kidney Injury by Temporary Bilateral Renal Artery Occlusion
Published on: February 2, 2021
Aquaporins alteration revealed kidney damages in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats
Meng Dai1,2, Jinglei Yang1,2, Zhaoyang Wang1,2
1Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Modern Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, No. 229 TaiBai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710069, PR China.
Background:
Restoration of blood supply is a desired goal for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. However, the restoration often leads to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIR/I), which greatly increases the risk of non-neural organ damage. In particular, the acute kidney injury might be one of the most common complications.
Aims:
The study aimed to understand the damage occurred and the potential molecular mechanisms.
Methods:
The study was explored on the CIR/I rats generated by performing middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/Reperfusion). The rats were evaluated with injury on the brains, followed by the non-neural organs including kidneys, livers, colons and stomachs. They were examined further with histopathological changes, and gene expression alterations by using RT-qPCR of ten aquaporins (Aqps) subtypes including Aqp1～Aqp9 and Aqp11. Furthermore, the Aqps expression profiles were constructed for each organ and analyzed by performing Principle Component Analysis. In addition, immunohistochemistry was explored to look at the protein expression of Aqp1, Aqp2, Aqp3 and Aqp4 in the rat kidneys.
Results:
There was a prominent down-regulation profile in the MCAO/Reperfusion rat kidneys. The protein expression of Aqp1, Aqp2, Aqp3 and Aqp4 was decreased in the kidneys of the MCAO/Reperfusion rats. We suggested that the kidney was in the highest risk to be damaged following the CIR/I. Down-regulation of Aqp2, Aqp3 and Aqp4 was involved in the acute kidney injury induced by the CIR/I.
