RESUMO
The role of linoleic acid in chronic renal failure (CRF) is controversial. In the present study 21 male Wistar rats submitted to 5/6 renal mass reduction (R) and 16 normal controls (C) were fed a supplement (S) or normal (N) linoleic acid diet for 60 days starting 10 days after CRF. As expected, serum creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides (mean SEM) were higher in the CRF groups compared to the C groups (P<0.05). The RS group presented lower cholesterol (84 4 vs 126 13 mg percent) and triglyceride (88 9 vs 132 19 mg percent) levels compared to the RN group. Proteinuria and kidney weight did not differ between CRF groups. Glomerular area increased 78 percent in RS and 100 percent in RN compared to control rats. Glomerular sclerosis index tended to be lower in RS (27 percent) compared to RN (38 percent), tubulointerstitial damage was similar between CRF groups (RS = 1.91 0.2 and RN = 2.14 0.3), and mesangial fractional volume increased to the same extent in both CRF groups. The data suggest that a linoleic acid-enriched diet did not protect against the progression of CRF after 60 days