Early increase in glomerular leucocyte number after a reduction in renal mass: implications for the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis.
1. Adult female Wistar rats underwent uninephrectomy (n = 8) through a flank incision, or a sham operation (n = 7). One to two weeks later the kidney was perfused in situ and glomeruli were isolated from cortical tissue by sequential sieving, and partially digested. Glomerular leucocytes were labelled with a mouse monoclonal antibody against leucocyte common antigen followed by a fluorescein-labelled anti-mouse immunoglobulin to allow counting. 2. In a further group of animals 24 h albumin excretion and glomerular size were measured 2 weeks after either uninephrectomy (n = 6) or sham operation (n = 6). 3. Glomerular leucocyte number was significantly increased in uninephrectomized animals (15.7 +/- 0.9 versus 8.9 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001), with some glomeruli having leucocyte numbers comparable with those seen in glomerulonephritis. 4. Albuminuria was not increased 2 weeks after uninephrectomy (233 +/- 35 versus 170 +/- 42 micrograms/24 h, not significant), and glomerular size was unchanged. Light microscopical appearance was normal. 5. An increase in glomerular leucocyte number is an early response in what was previously considered a non-immunological lesion. It precedes the development of renal scarring and may be important in the pathogenesis of this process.
Harris
K P
KP
Department of Nephrology, Leicester General Hospital, U.K.
Baker
F
F
Brown
J
J
Walls
J
J
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000652:urine; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar