Laboratory Investigation

Kidney International (1982) 22, 338–343; doi:10.1038/ki.1982.178

Mesangial function and glomerular sclerosis in rats after unilateral nephrectomy

Joris Grond1, Marten S Schilthuis1, Jan Koudstaal1 and Job D Elema1

1The Department of Pathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Dr J Grond, Department of Pathology, University of Groningen, Oostersingel 63, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands

Received 18 December 1981; Revised 1 April 1982.

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Abstract

Mesangial function and glomerular sclerosis in rats after unilateral nephrectomy. To investigate the possible relationship between disturbance of mesangial function and segmental localization of glomerular sclerosis, five uninephrectomized male Wistar rats and five sham-operated controls received colloidal carbon intravenously. At 4 months 8.4 plusminus 2.5% of the glomeruli of the nephrectomized rats showed focal sclerosis. Glomeruli of nephrectomized rats contained significantly more carbon than glomeruli of controls. Glomeruli with focal sclerosis contained significantly more carbon than normal glomeruli in the same kidneys with a preferential tracer localization within the lesions. In another experiment carbon injections were given before surgery. At 4 months 12.6 plusminus 4.1% of the glomeruli of the nephrectomized rats showed focal sclerosis, an incidence not significantly different from that of the first experiment. Glomerular carbon content was equal in experimental and control rats and no preferential localization of the tracer within the lesions was found. From these results we conclude that the preferential localization of carbon in the glomerular lesions in rats nephrectomized before injection of carbon is caused by the increased delivery of tracer shortly after injection to those glomerular areas where sclerosis will develop at a later time. The development of focal sclerosis may be related to the local deposition of harmful substances from the circulation.

Fonctionnement mésangial et sclérose glomérulaire chez des rats après néphrectomie unilatérale. Afin d'étudier une éventuelle relation entre des anomalies du fonctionnement mésangial et la localisation segmentaire de la sclérose glomérulaire, cinq rats mâles Wistar uninéphrectomisés et cinq contrôles ayant eu un simulacre d'intervention ont reçu du carbone colloïdal par voie intraveineuse. Au bout de 4 mois, 8,4 plusminus 2,5% des glomérules des rats néphrectomisés avaient une sclérose focale. Les glomérules des rats néphrectomisés contenaient significativement plus de carbone que les glomérules des contrôles. Les glomérules avec une sclérose focale contenaient significativement plus de carbone que les glomérules normaux des mêmes reins, avec une localisation préférentielle du traceur dans les lésions. Dans une autre expérience des injections de carbone ont été faites avant la chirurgie. Au bout de 4 mois, 12,6 plusminus 4,1% des glomérules des rats néphrectomisés avaient une sclérose focale, cette incidence n'étant pas significativement différente de celle observée au cours de la première expérience. Le contenu en carbone des glomérules était identique chez les rats expérimentaux et contrôles, et il n'a pas été trouvé de localisation préférentielle du traceur dans les lésions. De ces résultats, nous concluons que la localisation préférentielle du carbone dans les lésions glomérulaires de rats néphrectomisés avant une injection de carbone est dûe à une augmentation de l'afflux du traceur peu de temps après l'injection dans les aires glomérulaires où la sclérose se développera ultérieurement. Le développement d'une sclérose focale pourrait être relié au dépôt localisé de substances délétères provenant de la circulation.

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