Image analyser as a tool for the study ofin vitro glomerular vasoreactivity

Many drugs used in clinics can dramatically reduce renal hemodynamics. For some years there have been developed in our laboratory twoin vitro glomerular models, isolated glomeruli and mesangial cell cultures, to quantitate, by video image analyzer, the direct glomerular effect of vasoreactive agents. The present study shows the vasoconstrictive effects of angiotensin II and cyclosporin in both models and compares their glomerular vasoconstriction with or without vasodilating agents such as verapamil. This drug-induced glomerular vasoreactivity is time- and dose-dependent; moreover, it can be reversible after perfusion in control conditions. The interest of thesein vitro glomerular models is validated by fair correlations betweenin vivo andin vitro data and between the responses of both. These models can be considered as tools for assessing glomerular vasoreactivity of nephrotoxic agentsAbbreviations AngII angiotensin II - CsA cyclosporin A - GFR glomerular filtration rate - PSA planar surface area - RBF renal blood flow