Rosuvastatin beneficially alters the glomerular structure of kidneys from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) |
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Authors: | Érica Peres de Barros Angélica Beatriz Garcia-Pinto Priscilla Yório Machado Mário José dos Santos Pereira Jorge José de Carvalho |
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Institution: | Laboratório de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Tecidual, Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Av. 28 de setembro, 87, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brazil. |
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Abstract: | The incidence of chronic renal diseases is increasing worldwide, and there is a great need to identify therapies capable of
arresting or reducing disease progression. The current treatment of chronic nephropathies is limited to angiotensin-converting
enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, but increasing clinical and experimental evidence suggests that statins
could play a therapeutic role. Ultrastructural studies have shown the presence of gap junctions within all the cells of the
glomerulus and podocytes have been found to contain primarily connexin-43. The present study aims to observe the beneficial
effects of rosuvastatin on structural and ultrastructural renal morphology and on glomerular connexin-43 expression in normotensive
rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rats were randomly allocated into four groups: WKY-C: normotensive animals
no receiving rosuvastatin; WKY-ROS: normotensive animals receiving rosuvastatin; SHR-C: hypertensive animals no receiving
rosuvastatin; SHR-ROS: hypertensive animals receiving rosuvastatin. Our results show no differences in blood urea, creatinine,
uric acid and creatine phosphokinase levels between the groups, however, there was an decreasing of 24-h protein excretion
in SHR-ROS. Capsular area in SHR-ROS was decreased, however, there was no alteration in urinary space. By transmission electron
microscopy the slit diaphragm and podocyte foot processes were more preserved in SHR-ROS. By scanning electron microscopy
the podocyte foot processes were more preserved in SHR-ROS. Increased connexin-43 immunofluorescence was observed in glomeruli
of WKY-ROS and SHR-ROS. In conclusion, we hypothesize that renal pleiotropic effect of rosuvastatin can be a therapeutic tool
for improving kidney ultrastructure and, consequently, renal function in hypertensive individuals. |
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