[A pathomorphological study on damage and repair process of tubuli after renal ischemia]

To clarify the development of tubular necrosis and its healing process in ischemic renal failure observing degeneration, necrosis, cell proliferation and the involvement of apoptosis in the renal tubular epithelial cells before and after renal ischemia in rats through morphological examination. Eight week-old male rats were used for this study. The model for acute renal failure was by obstruction of bilateral renal arteries and veins for 45 minutes in several intervals (0 hr, 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr, 24hr, 48 hr, 96 hr, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks) each following reperfusion. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin (BMG) levels were measured to evaluate renal tubular function. In evaluating tubular necrosis and cell proliferation, observations of renal tubular tissue were made serially by use of light microscopy and immunological staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), respectively. The number of nuclei in the proximal tubular epithelium/circumference of the basement membrane (n/BM index) was calculated using a tissue measuring device. Transmission electron microscopy and the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) methods were used as indices of apoptosis. Maximal BMG values were obtained 24 hours after ischemia when injury in the proximal tubular epithelium was most prominent. The maximal number of PCNA and BrdU-positive cells were obtained 24 hours after ischemia and thereafter gradually decreased. The n/BM index in the disorder group was significantly increased 96 hours and 1 week after ischemia (p < 0.001). Electron microscopy revealed nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis in the tubular area indicating that there were significant differences. The number of positive cells for in situ nick end labelling increased 24 hours and 2 weeks after ischemia, exhibiting a two peak curve. However, the number of positive cells significantly decreased 4 weeks after ischemia. In the proximal kidney tubules damaged by reperfusion after ischemia, epithelial hyperplasia developed 3 to 6 days after the most active period of S-phase cells was noted. Thereafter, a decreasing number of epithelial cells was observed. It seemed that the decreasing number of these cells had been produced by apoptosis detected 2 weeks after ischemia.