Model rats with membranous nephropathy induced by cationic bovine serum albumin:expressions of related proteins in podocytes / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Establishing the animal model of membranous nephropathy is of importance to figure out the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of nephrin and podocin in the model of membrane nephropathy in rats, and to investigate their relationships with the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy. METHODS:A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were equivalently randomized into model and control groups. Rats in the model group were in premunity by given subcutaneous and multi-point injection of 1 mg cationic bovine serum albumin firstly dissolved in 0.5 mL normal saline and then ful y emulsified with the equal incomplete Freund’s adjuvant for 1 week, and 16 mg/kg cationic bovine serum albumin was injected via vein tails, once every other day for 4 weeks. The same volume of normal saline was injected into the controls. The mRNA expressions of nephrin and podocin in renal tissues were detected using real-time PCR, and biochemical indicators and morphological observation were measured at 2 and 4 weeks after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In the model group, the total amount of urine and serum albumin levels were significantly decreased accompanying with overt proteinuria, and the serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly increased al in a time-independent manner compared with the control group (P<0.01), and the difference was significant (P<0.05). (2) The pathological examination showed that rats in the model group had different degrees of renal tubular dilatation, glomerular basement membrane thickening, mesangial cel s and stromal hyperplasia, which was typical of membranous nephritis. (3) Moreover, the mRNA expressions of podocin and nephrin in the model group were lower than those in the control group. (4) In conclusion, the decreased expressions of podocin and nephfin may disturb the integrity of the slit membrane of podocytes giving rise to the damage of glomerular filtration barrier, and proteinuria appears in final.