Cellular proliferation during compensatory renal growth in neonatal rats using flow cytometry.
BACKGROUND
Compensatory renal growth consists of cellular enlargement and a small but consistent increase in DNA content. It has been assumed that the increase in the total renal DNA content was due to new cell formation.


METHODS
To test the hypothesis of whether cellular hyperplasia is the cause of the compensatory renal growth after the loss of the renal parenchyma and the timing of the DNA increase in neonatal rats, we performed cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Following unilateral nephrectomy, the maximum increases of neonatal cortical cells entering the S phase occurred at 72 and 120 h (9.4 and 9.6% compared to 7.0 and 6.1% of the sham-operated group). Peak increases of neonatal kidney cortical cells entering the G2M phase occurred at 48 and 72 h (4.3 and 4.6% compared to 3.3 and 3.9% of the sham-operated group).


CONCLUSIONS
DNA synthesis and replication occurs during compensatory renal growth following unilateral nephrectomy in neonatal rats as evidenced by an increase in cells entering both the S and G2M phases. In neonatal rats these events appear to be completed within 48-120 h after nephrectomy.
Han
Sang Won
SW
Department of Urology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Rha
Koon Ho
KH
Choi
Seung Kang
SK
Lee
Moo Sang
MS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002455:Cell Division; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016195:G2 Phase; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery; D008938:Mitosis; D009392:Nephrectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016196:S Phase