Heterogeneity of glomerular barrier function in early adriamycin nephrosis of MWF rats

Adriamycin (ADR), selectively toxic to glomerular epithelial cells, was administered (5 mg/kg BW, i.v.) to MWF/Ztm rats to study its early effects on glomerular barrier function with respect to albumin and high molecular weight (HMW) proteins. After 7 days of ADR incubation (glomerular filtration rate remains unchanged), protein excretion was significantly increased in treated rats. The proteinuria was due to a nonselective glomerular lesions resulting in an increase in both, but not a changed ratio of HMW proteins to albumin. However, this ADR-induced proteinuria seen in the final urine was not confirmed by free-flow micropuncture studies of superficial glomeruli. The albumin and HMW protein concentrations in samples taken from Bowman's capsular space of ADR-treated rats did not significantly differ from control samples. These data suggest that cortical nephrons are less sensitive to ADR than juxtamedullary nephrons.