[Effect of cholestasis on renal morphological and functional aspects after nephrectomy].
OBJECTIVE
The removal of one kidney results in a compensatory growth of the remnant kidney. However, the mechanism that underlies this hypertrophic response is not understood. In this study we assessed the influence of obstructive jaundice on renal morphology and function after unilateral nephrectomy.


METHODS
Forty Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1--sham operation, Group 2--right nephrectomy, Group 3--common bile duct ligation, Group 4--common bile duct ligation and right nephrectomy. After 20 days, blood was collected for biochemical studies and the animals were killed. Their kidneys and livers were removed and weighed. Histological evaluation of both organs was carried out.


RESULTS
No difference in the kidney/body weight ratio was observed for animals undergoing right nephrectomy (Groups 2 and 4) (p=0.4). Animals submitted to bile duct ligation only (Group 3) presented a higher kidney/body weight ratio than animals submitted to sham operation (Group 1) (p=0.011). Vasodilatation was identified in the medulla of the hypertrophied kidneys and histological alterations were found in the livers of the jaundiced animals. Cirrhosis occurred only in nephrectomized rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Cholestasis does not affect the weight, function or the compensatory renal growth of the remnant kidney after unilateral nephrectomy.
Lima
Daniel Xavier
DX
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG.
Petroianu
Andy
A
Rodrigues
Kelly Cristine de Lacerda
KC
Salles
Paulo Guilherme de Oliveira
PG
D000818:Animals; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009929:Organ Size; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar