STEREOLOGIC STUDY OF GLOMERULAR HYPERTROPHY IN SUB-TOTALLY NEPHRECTOMIZED RAT

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 90  (1) , 201-210
Abstract
Subtotal nephrectomy in the rat is followed by glomerular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis and, ultimately, renal failure. A morphometric study of the glomerular changes following subtotal nephrectomy in the rat during the period of functional compensation was made before glomerulosclerosis appeared. A 2-fold increase in glomerular volume as compared with controls 2 wk after operation (to approximately 2 .times. 106 .mu.m3) followed by a linear increase to approximately 5 .times. 106 .mu.m3 at 21 wk was found. The rate of increase in glomerular volume in controls did not significantly exceed that of body weight. The volume increase after subtotal nephrectomy was a true hypertrophy, since other morphometric parameters expressed per unit glomerular volume (surface and length densities) were approximately 80% of control values at 2 wk and constant thereafter. Glomerular hypertrophy up to 21 wk was accompanied by a stable BUN [blood urea nitrogen] and a gradually increasing proteinuria. Glomerular hypertrophy in this system was a pathologic rather than a compensatory process, and it may represent a counter productive response to hemodynamic changes serving to increase the glomerular filtration rate.