Rosuvastatin preserves renal structure following unilateral ureteric obstruction in the neonatal rat.
OBJECTIVE
Unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) in neonatal rodents can be used as a paradigm for in utero obstruction in humans and a platform for studying the potential of novel therapies for congenital obstructive nephropathy. The present study examined the effect of rosuvastatin (Ros) on key morphometric measures of renal injury and corresponding gene expression correlates following neonatal UUO in the rat.


METHODS
Neonatal rats subjected to UUO and controls were treated daily with vehicle or Ros for 14 days. Quantification of tubular dilatation, glomerular size and number and tubulointerstitial fibrotic area was performed and changes validated by reference to appropriate renal gene expression correlates.


RESULTS
UUO increased tubular diameter and interstitial fibrosis by 2.7- and 7-fold, respectively, in parallel with increases in renal transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA levels. Glomerular number and size were reduced by 52 and 33%, respectively. Reductions in WT-1 mRNA and protein expression were noted following obstruction occurring in tandem with reduced mRNA levels for BMP-7 and E-cadherin. Ros attenuated tubular dilatation (33%) and interstitial fibrosis (72%) in association with the normalization of renal TGF-β(1) and TNF-α mRNA levels. Ros improved glomerular number and size (30 and 50%), and preserved mRNA and protein expression levels of WT-1 and normalized mRNA levels for BMP-7 and E-cadherin.


CONCLUSIONS
Ros treatment attenuated all changes, most notably the increase in interstitial fibrosis. Notably, Ros treatment was unable to completely salvage glomerular development. Together these data highlight the therapeutic potential and limitations of Ros in neonatal obstruction.
Áreas de Fisiopatología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
Luciana Jorgelina
LJ
Mazzei
Isabel Mercedes
IM
García
Liliana
L
Altamirano
Neil G
NG
Docherty
Walter
W
Manucha
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D015820:Cadherins; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013449:Sulfonamides; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium