Compensatory glomerular growth after unilateral nephrectomy is VEGF dependent.
Various growth factors and cytokines have been implicated in different forms of kidney enlargement. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for normal renal development and plays a role in diabetic glomerular enlargement. To explore a possible role for VEGF in compensatory renal changes after uninephrectomy, we examined the effect of a neutralizing VEGF-antibody (VEGF-Ab) on glomerular volume and kidney weight in mice treated for 7 days. Serum and kidney insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels were measured, since IGF-I has been implicated in the pathogenesis of compensatory renal growth, and VEGF has been suggested to be a downstream mediator of IGF-I. Placebo-treated uninephrectomized mice displayed an early transient increase in kidney IGF-I concentration and an increase in glomerular volume and kidney weight. In VEGF-Ab-treated uninephrectomized animals, increased glomerular volume was abolished, whereas renal hypertrophy was partially blocked. Furthermore, the renal effects of VEGF-Ab administration were seen without affecting the renal IGF-I levels. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that compensatory glomerular growth after uninephrectomy is VEGF dependent.
Flyvbjerg
Allan
A
Medical Department M, Medical Research Laboratories, Institute of Experimental Clinical Research, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. allan.fyvbjerg@dadlnet.dk
Schrijvers
Bieke F
BF
De Vriese
An S
AS
Tilton
Ronald G
RG
Rasch
Ruth
R
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I