Arteriolar nephrosclerosis in the Syrian hamster

Syrian hamsters developed spontaneous renal lesions that resembled those of arteriolar nephrosclerosis in man, and differed from other spontaneously occurring or virus-induced renal diseases in other rodent species. Morphologic changes were mainly degenerative with little cellular exudation and were associated with histologic changes in the intrarenal vasculature. The renal lesions were progressive, often fatal and sometimes were complicated by glomerular amyloidosis with the nephrotic syndrome and uremia. Endstage kidneys often had fibrinoid necrosis of intrarenal arterioles and thus resembled lesions characteristic of the malignant phase of human essential hypertension. Fibrinoid necrosis of small arterioles was common in the uterus, ovaries or testes of affected animals; it was less frequent in mesenteric or coronary vessels. Cardiac thrombosis, often involving the left atrium or left atrioventricular valves, also was common. Changes occurred earlier and often were more severe in females than in males. This disease was a major cause of morbidity and mortality and hampered life-span studies.