title: Dietary potassium citrate does not harm the pcy mouse.
abstract: Formation of multiple cysts in the kidneys occurs in several inherited diseases and often leads to terminal kidney failure. Because there is no definitive therapy to halt or slow the progression of renal cystic disease in people, numerous studies have examined possible therapies in animal models. Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in the Han:SPRD rat is ameliorated when alkalinizing citrate salts are provided in drinking solutions. By contrast, pcy mice with cystic disease fare worse with the same treatment. We tested the hypothesis that pcy mice ingesting citrate salts in the feed would not be adversely affected by this treatment. Male homozygous pcy mice were given regular feed or 6% potassium citrate-supplemented feed and ad libitum access to water starting at 3 weeks of age. The survival curves of the treated and untreated mice were not significantly different. We conclude that treatment with potassium citrate in the feed does not affect the progression of renal cystic disease in the pcy mouse. This model closely resembles human adolescent nephronophthisis (NPHP3). Based on these findings, citrate treatment cannot be recommended for NPHP3. The fact that it did no harm, however, removes a significant barrier to its consideration as a therapy for ADPKD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D019357:Potassium Citrate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019357:Potassium Citrate