Genetic ablation of SLK exacerbates glomerular injury in adriamycin nephrosis in mice.

Ste20-like kinase SLK is critical for embryonic development and may play an important role in wound healing, muscle homeostasis, cell migration, and tumor growth. Mice with podocyte-specific deletion of SLK show albuminuria and damage to podocytes as they age. The present study addressed the role of SLK in glomerular injury. We induced adriamycin nephrosis in 3- to 4-mo-old control and podocyte SLK knockout (KO) mice. Compared with control, SLK deletion exacerbated albuminuria and loss of podocytes, synaptopodin, and podocalyxin. Glomeruli of adriamycin-treated SLK KO mice showed diffuse increases in the matrix and sclerosis as well as collapse of the actin cytoskeleton. SLK can phosphorylate ezrin. The complex of phospho-ezrin, Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 2, and podocalyxin in the apical domain of the podocyte is a key determinant of normal podocyte architecture. Deletion of SLK reduced glomerular ezrin and ezrin phosphorylation in adriamycin nephrosis. Also, deletion of SLK reduced the colocalization of ezrin and podocalyxin in the glomerulus. Cultured glomerular epithelial cells with KO of SLK showed reduced ezrin phosphorylation and podocalyxin expression as well as reduced F-actin. Thus, SLK deletion leads to podocyte injury as mice age and exacerbates injury in adriamycin nephrosis. The mechanism may at least in part involve ezrin phosphorylation as well as disruption of the cytoskeleton and podocyte apical membrane structure.

Reduced B lymphoid kinase (Blk) expression enhances proinflammatory cytokine production and induces nephrosis in C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice.

BLK, which encodes B lymphoid kinase, was recently identified in genome wide association studies as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and risk alleles mapping to the BLK locus result in reduced gene expression. To determine whether BLK is indeed a bona fide susceptibility gene, we developed an experimental mouse model, namely the Blk+/-.lpr/lpr (Blk+/-.lpr) mouse, in which Blk expression levels are reduced to levels comparable to those in individuals carrying a risk allele. Here, we report that Blk is expressed not only in B cells, but also in IL-17-producing γδ and DN αß T cells and in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Moreover, we found that solely reducing Blk expression in C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice enhanced proinflammatory cytokine production and accelerated the onset of lymphoproliferation, proteinuria, and kidney disease. Together, these findings suggest that BLK risk alleles confer susceptibility to SLE through the dysregulation of a proinflammatory cytokine network.

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases during chronic allograft nephropathy in rats.

BACKGROUND: Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) belongs to the major causes of long-term kidney allograft failure. One of the histologic hallmarks of CAN is interstitial fibrosis, influenced by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are controlling extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Whether MMPs affect the development and progression of CAN is not clear so far. To analyze the role of MMPs in CAN, we investigated the effects of an early and a late application of BAY 12-9566, an inhibitor of MMP-2, -3, and -9 on the development and progression of CAN in a rat kidney-transplantation model. METHODS: Fisher kidneys were orthotopically transplanted into Lewis recipients that were treated with BAY 12-9566 (15 mg/kg per day) or vehicle either for the first 10 days after transplantation (early treatment) or from week 12 to week 20 after transplantation (late treatment). Proteinuria was analyzed every 4 weeks up to week 20 after transplantation when kidney grafts were removed for further analysis. RESULTS: Early MMP-inhibition resulted in a significantly reduced 24-hour protein excretion that was paralleled by a lower grade of CAN after 20 weeks. However, late MMP inhibition starting at week 12 after transplantation resulted in significantly higher proteinuria and a higher grade of CAN as compared with controls. Furthermore, transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor-B chain mRNA levels were significantly increased in these animals. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of MMPs early after transplantation reduced the development and progression of CAN but promoted CAN if initiated at later stages. Thus, MMPs are involved in the development and progression of CAN.

Altered expression of NDST-1 messenger RNA in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

Sulfated portions of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains in heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) are thought to play an important role in charge-dependent selectivity of glomerular filtration against plasma proteins. Heparan sulfate N-acetylglucosamine N-deacetylase/adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate: unsubstituted glucosamine N-sulfotransferase (NDST) is the key enzyme regulating sulfation of GAG chains. In this study we investigated transcriptional expression of NDST-1, 1 of 4 isozymes of NDST, in glomeruli of rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis. Nephrosis was induced in rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg PAN. On days 10 and 35, expression of NDST-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in glomeruli was analyzed with the use of Northern-blot analysis. Immunohistochemical studies were also performed with the use of monoclonal antibodies that react specifically with the N-sulfated portion of the GAG chain of HSPG and agrin, a major core protein of HSPG in glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In addition, we studied the expression of NDST-1 mRNA in cultured glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) and glomerular mesangial cells in the presence of PAN. On day 10, when significant proteinuria developed, the ratios of glomerular expression of NDST-1 mRNA against glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA in PAN-treated rats were decreased to 48% +/- 6% of those in controls (P<.05). Immunohistochemical studies revealed that staining for N-sulfated GAG chains of HSPG on GBM was markedly reduced on day 10 in PAN-treated rats but that staining for agrin was unchanged. In contrast, on day 35, when PAN-treated rats recovered from proteinuria, we noted no differences in glomerular expression of NDST-1 mRNA and staining intensity for N-sulfated GAG chains on GBM between PAN-treated rats and controls. Incubation of GECs for 24 hours in the presence of 50 ng/mL PAN resulted in the reduction of the expression of NDST-1 mRNA (67% +/- 12% of those in controls, P<.05). In summary, we found alteration of the expression of NDST-1 mRNA, accompanying a loss of N-sulfated GAG chains of HSPG on GBM without changes in the core protein agrin, in the course of PAN nephrosis. These data suggest an important role for this enzyme in heparan sulfate assembly in GBM and GEC and in the pathogenesis of proteinuria in PAN nephrosis.

Mitochondrial DNA and its respiratory chain products are defective in doxorubicin nephrosis.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin induces a self-perpetuating nephropathy characterized by early glomerular and late-onset tubular lesions in rats. We investigated the potential role of mitochondrial injury in the onset of these lesions. METHODS: Rats were treated with intravenous doxorubicin (1 mg kg(-1) week(-1)) for 7 weeks and were sacrificed either 1 week ('short-term') or 30 weeks ('long-term') following the last dose. Additional rats received a single dose either 6 days or 2 h prior to euthanasia. All rats were killed at 48 weeks of age. Glomerular and tubular injury was monitored and correlated to the activity or expression of respiratory chain components. Finally, we quantified both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as well as superoxide production and the 4834 base pair 'common' mtDNA deletion. RESULTS: The 'long-term' group had significant glomerular and tubular lesions, depressed activities of mtDNA-encoded NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome-c oxidase (COX) and increased citrate synthase activity. In addition, expression of the mtDNA-encoded COX subunit I was reduced and mtDNA levels were decreased. In 'short-term' rats, there were fewer tubular lesions, but similar numbers of glomerular lesions activity. Among all animals, glomerular and tubular injury were inversely correlated with mtDNA levels, mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain activities and with the expression of the mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain subunit COX-I. Injury was positively correlated with superoxide production and the activities of nucleus-encoded mitochondrial or cytoplasmic enzymes. Kidneys from the 'long-term' group showed more mtDNA deletions than in 'short-term' animals and these were not observed in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an important role for quantitative and qualitative mtDNA alterations through the reduction of mtDNA-encoded respiratory chain function and induction of superoxide in doxorubicin-induced renal lesions.

Increased synthesis and avp unresponsiveness of Na,K-ATPase in collecting duct from nephrotic rats.

Renal sodium retention is responsible for ascites and edema in nephrotic syndrome. In puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrosis, sodium retention originates in part from the collecting duct, and it is associated with increased Na,K-ATPase activity in the cortical collecting duct (CCD). The aims of this study were to evaluate whether the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) also participates to sodium retention and to determine the mechanisms responsible for stimulation of Na,K-ATPase in CCD. PAN nephrosis increased Na,K-ATPase activity in the CCD but not in OMCD. The two-fold increase of Na,K-ATPase activity in CCD was associated with two-fold increases in the number of alpha and beta Na,K-ATPase subunits mRNA determined by quantitative RT-PCR and of the total amount of Na,K-ATPase alpha subunits estimated by Western blotting. PAN nephrosis also increased two-fold the amount of Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit at the basolateral membrane of CCD principal cells, as determined by Western blotting after biotinylation and streptavidin precipitation and by immunofluorescence. The intracellular pool of latent Na,K-ATPase units also increased in size and was no longer recruitable by vasopressin and cAMP. This unresponsiveness of the intracellular pool of Na,K-ATPase to vasopressin was not the result of any alteration of the molecular and functional expression of the vasopressin V(2) receptor/adenylyl cyclase (AC) complex. It is concluded that PAN nephrosis (1) does not alter sodium reabsorption in OMCD, (2) is associated with increased synthesis and membrane expression of Na,K-ATPase in the CCD, and (3) alters the normal trafficking of intracellular Na,K-ATPase units to the basolateral membrane.

Collecting duct (Na+/K+)-ATPase activity is correlated with urinary sodium excretion in rat nephrotic syndromes.

In puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-treated nephrotic rats, sodium retention is associated with increased (Na+/K+)-ATPase activity in the cortical collecting ducts (CCD). This study was undertaken to determine whether stimulation of (Na+/K+)-ATPase in the CCD is a feature of other experimental nephrotic syndromes, whether it might be responsible for renal sodium retention, and whether it is mediated by increased plasma vasopressin levels or activation of calcineurin. For this purpose, the time courses of urinary excretion of sodium and protein, sodium balance, ascites, and (Na+/K+)-ATPase activities in microdissected CCD were studied in rats with PAN or adriamycin nephrosis or HgCl2 nephropathy. The roles of vasopressin and calcineurin in PAN nephrosis were evaluated by measuring these parameters in Brattleboro rats and in rats treated with cyclosporin or tacrolimus. Despite different patterns of changes in urinary sodium and protein excretion in the three nephrotic syndrome models, there was a linear relationship between CCD (Na+/K+)-ATPase activities and sodium excretion in all three cases. The results also indicated that there was no correlation between proteinuria and sodium retention, but ascites was present only when proteinuria was associated with marked reduction of sodium excretion. Finally, the lack of vasopressin in Brattleboro rats or the inhibition of calcineurin by administration of either cyclosporin or tacrolimus did not prevent development of the nephrotic syndrome in PAN-treated rats or stimulation of CCD (Na+/K+)-ATPase. It is concluded that stimulation of Na(+/K+)-ATPase in the CCD of nephrotic rats might be responsible for sodium retention and that this phenomenon is independent of proteinuria and vasopressin and calcineurin activities.

Suppressed activities of cathepsins and metalloproteinases in the chronic model of puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

Glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis are the hallmarks of chronic renal diseases. In the present study, we have investigated the potential involvement of various proteinases in these alterations in the model of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis. Two groups of male Wistar rats were given either three or seven injections of PAN (2.0 mg/100 g body weight) over a 4- and 12-week period, respectively. The two control groups received saline injections. Activities of cathepsins (B, H and L) were determined in isolated glomeruli and proximal tubules. Moreover, collagenase-like and gelatinase-like activities were analyzed in isolated glomeruli. Three weeks after weekly PAN injection, the rats developed heavy proteinuria (140.8+/-22.0 vs. 13.5+/-3.29 mg/day; p<0.001), and at week 11 protein excretion reached 606.6+/-23.00 vs. 22.8+/-1.5 mg/day. Renal morphology revealed minimal glomerular mesangial changes at the 4th week after PAN administration. At the 12th week a marked mesangial matrix accumulation as well as severe tubulointerstitial infiltration and fibrosis associated with tubular dilation and atrophy were observed. Glomerular cathepsins B, H, and L and gelatinase-like activities decreased at the 4th week after the first PAN injection and remained at this low level throughout the entire study period. Glomerular collagenase-like activity decreased at the 4th week (p<0.05) and was still mildly lower than that of the control group at the 12th week, but without significance. In the isolated proximal tubules, the activities of cathepsins B, H, and L showed the same pattern of decreases as those found in the glomeruli over the whole experimental period. Taken together, our data in the model of chronic PAN nephrosis suggest that the suppressed activities of cathepsins as well as the decreased gelatinase- and collagenase-like activities participate in the accumulation of extracellular matrix and thereby may contribute to the development of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Podocyte architecture in puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats administered tungsten or allopurinol.

The role of xanthine oxidase as a source of reactive oxygen species in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis was examined. The effects of allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor as well as a reactive oxygen species scavenging enzyme) and tungsten (a specific xanthine oxidase inhibitor) on glomerular epithelial cell ultrastructure, renal xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activity, and urinary protein excretion were examined in puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats. Co-administration of allopurinol to such rats reduced proteinuria by approximately 70% over the 10 days studied, and reduced the degree of glomerular epithelial cell foot process effacement at both 5 and 10 days, compared to rats that received puromycin aminonucleoside alone. Unexpectedly, co-administration of allopurinol to puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats did not reduce xanthine oxidase activity; however, the combined activity of xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase in such animals was reduced on day 5. Co-administration of tungsten to puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats did not reduce proteinuria or alter the number of filtration slits. Rats co-administered tungsten and puromycin aminonucleoside had significantly reduced renal xanthine oxidase and combined xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activities on days 5 and 10, compared to rats treated with puromycin aminonucleoside alone. These results provide evidence that the protection provided by allopurinol in puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats is due to the antioxidant properties of allopurinol, rather than to its activities as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor.

Effect of dietary protein restriction on renal purines and purine-metabolizing enzymes in adriamycin nephrosis in rats: a mechanism for protection against acute proteinuria involving xanthine oxidase inhibition.

1. A low protein diet prevents the development of proteinuria and glomerular damage in adriamycin experimental nephrosis without affecting renal haemodynamics. In this study the hypothesis was tested as to whether protein restriction is able to modulate the purine metabolic cycle and related enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, one of the putative effectors of adriamycin nephrotoxicity. 2. Renal activities of xanthine oxidase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase were markedly depressed in adriamycin-treated rats fed a 9% casein (low protein) diet compared with the group fed a 22% casein (normal protein) diet both 1 day after adriamycin administration and at the time of appearance of heavy proteinuria (day 15), whereas the activity of renal adenosine deaminase was unchanged. 3. The concentrations of the metabolic substrates of xanthine oxidase, i.e. hypoxanthine and xanthine, were constantly lower in renal homogenates of rats fed a low protein diet compared with those on a normal protein diet. In urine, uric acid, the product of hypoxanthine-xanthine transformation, was lower 1 day after adriamycin injection in protein-restricted rats compared with the group on a normal protein diet which showed a marked increase in its excretion. At the same time, the urinary efflux of adenosine 5'-monophosphate, which is the precursor nucleotide of the above-mentioned nucleosides and bases, was very high in rats fed a low protein diet, whereas it was absent in the group on a normal protein diet. 4. The progressive increment in proteinuria of glomerular origin (i.e. increased excretion of albumin and transferrin) typical of adriamycin-treated rats fed a normal protein diet was inhibited in the protein-restricted animals, which were normoproteinuric on day 10 and were only slightly proteinuric on day 15. 5. Like protein restriction, the pharmacological suppression of renal xanthine oxidase by dietary tungstate and the scavenging by dimethylthiourea of the putative free radical deriving from the action of xanthine oxidase, were associated with a similar (quantitative and qualitative) inhibition of glomerular proteinuria. 6. These data demonstrate that dietary protein restriction is associated with a block in purine metabolism within the kidney due to a marked reduction in the activities of two main enzymes of the cycle, i.e. purine nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase, the latter being a putative effector of adriamycin nephrotoxicity. The partial reduction of proteinuria induced by a low protein diet is quantitatively and qualitatively comparable with the reduction induced by the specific block of renal xanthine oxidase or by the scavenging of OH.deriving from hypoxanthine and xanthine transformation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Renal purine efflux and xanthine oxidase activity during experimental nephrosis in rats: difference between puromycin aminonucleoside and adriamycin nephrosis.

1. The hypothesis was tested that the renal xanthine oxidase system provides a source of oxygen free radicals in puromycin aminonucleoside and adriamycin experimental nephrosis by generating uric acid from hypoxanthine and xanthine. 2. The concentrations in renal tissue of the putative intermediary products of puromycin aminonucleoside metabolism, hypoxanthine and xanthine, and of their precursors, adenosine and inosine, were lower in rats treated with puromycin aminonucleoside than in normal controls, whereas concentrations of the metabolites were normal after adriamycin intoxication. Their daily urinary excretion was lower in the 24 h after puromycin aminonucleoside administration compared with the baseline values and returned to near normal levels within 5 days. After adriamycin the 24 h urinary excretion of xanthine and uric acid was double the baseline levels (P less than 0.001). 3. When equimolar amounts of hypoxanthine were injected instead of puromycin aminonucleoside, the concentration of all bases increased slightly in renal tissue and their urinary efflux was double the baseline level: allantoin, uric acid, the unmodified nucleotide and xanthine were the most represented compounds in urine. 4. The enzymatic activities relative to xanthine oxidase (EC 1.1.3.22) and xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.204) in renal tissues were unchanged 1 day after puromycin aminonucleoside or hypoxanthine intoxication and only moderately increased in both groups at 13 days (the time of appearance of heavy proteinuria in the puromycin aminonucleoside-treated group). In contrast, xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activities were higher in adriamycin-treated rats at 1 and 15 days after the treatment (P less than 0.001). 5. Feeding rats with normoprotein diets containing tungsten induced a marked and constant decrease of renal xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activities to 20% of the baseline values in both puromycin aminonucleoside- and adriamycin-treated rats. Inhibition of renal xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activities by tungsten was associated with a marked reduction (P less than 0.001) of proteinuria in adriamycin-treated rats and the same occurred with allopurinol, a specific inhibitor of xanthine oxidase activity. In contrast, tungsten treatment did not reduce the proteinuria associated with puromycin aminonucleoside, which reached a maximum 13 days after puromycin aminonucleoside intoxication. Hypoxanthine-treated rats were normoproteinuric after 2 months of observation. 6. These data demonstrate an activation of renal xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase after adriamycin intoxication which is relevant to the induction of proteinuria. They also argue against the involvement of the renal xanthine oxidase system as a source of free radicals in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis and suggest that the nucleotide cycle is not a normal route for puromycin aminonucleoside degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cathepsin B and L in nephron segments of rats with puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

The intralysosomal proteinases, cathepsins B and L, were measured in microdissected segments of rat nephrons following a single injection of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN). Z-Phenylalanyl-arginine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin served as substrate. Enzyme activities, proteinuria, creatinine clearance and renal morphology were determined at specific time intervals following induction of PAN nephrosis. During the first three days following PAN injection, enzyme activities in S2 and S3 segments, protein excretion, creatinine clearance and appearance of the renal parenchyma resembled control animals. The enzyme activity in S1 segments was slightly decreased, but returned to control levels at day six after injection. Days four through eight post-PAN injection were characterized by a dramatic increase in protein excretion and an increase in cathepsin B and L activity in S2 and S3 segments of the proximal tubule. During days 9 through 15 enzyme activity decreased significantly in S2 segments despite continued proteinuria. Overt necrosis and cell injury were seen in the proximal tubule and probably account for the decrease in proteolytic activity. After day 15 following PAN injection, the level of proteinuria decreased, restoration of cathepsin activities occurred and a histopathologic picture of healing was present. The data suggest a positive relationship exists between stimulation of cathepsin B and L activity in S2 and S3 segments of the proximal tubule and increased protein filtration in PAN nephrosis. The increased enzyme activity reflects enhancement of the proteolytic capacity of the lysosomal system that is necessary for increased protein catabolism.

Decreased ATPase activity in adriamycin nephrosis is independent of proteinuria.

In previous studies from this laboratory it has been shown that ATP-ase activity in situ in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is clearly reduced in rats rendered nephrotic after treatment with adriamycin (ADR). The question was raised whether this reduction of ATP-ase activity in the GBM is due to toxic activity of ADR or rather a result of the nephrotic condition per se. Therefore, we studied ATP-ase activity using the cerium-based method in kidneys from ADR-treated rats without proteinuria (48 hr after ADR injection), or with proteinuria (approximately 150 mg/24 hr) several weeks after ADR injection. Also kidneys from rats rendered nephrotic by surgical ablation and from non-nephrotic rats treated with local X-irradiation (2000 rads) as well as from normal control rats were studied. The results show that in the GBM of ADR-treated or irradiated rats, clear reduction of ATP-ase activity is observed irrespective of their proteinuria, whereas in the GBM of rats rendered nephrotic by renal ablation (approximately 156 mg/24 hr mean protein excretion) no reduction of enzyme activity is found. It is concluded that decreased ATP-ase activity of the glomerular filtration barrier in ADR-treated rats is due to an early toxic activity of this drug and not a result of the nephrotic state per se. In view of the identical results in X-irradiated rats, it is likely that ADR may act through production of toxic radicals leading to damage of this membrane-associated enzyme system.

Urinary excretion of neutral proteinases in nephrotic rats with a glomerular disease.

A proliferative glomerulonephritis was induced in rats pre-immunized with rabbit IgG by injecting intravenously a sub-nephrotoxic dose of rabbit anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) IgG (A rats). Most rats (80%) developed a severe proteinuria (greater than 100 mg/24 hr) within two to five days after the injection of anti-GBM IgG. At the same time, microscopic examination of the kidneys revealed a glomerular infiltration by mononuclear phagocytes and a prominent decrease in the intensity of the colloidal iron reaction in glomeruli. A non-proliferative glomerular disease was induced in another group of rats (B rats) by intraperitoneal administration of aminonucleoside of puromycin. A marked proteinuria (greater than 100 mg/24 hr) occurred after six days in 90% of animals. Histochemical studies then revealed a decrease in staining intensity of glomeruli for polyanion. No glomerular hypercellularity was noted. In normal rats and in non-proteinuric A or B rats, the 24 hour urinary excretion of neutral proteinases ranged from 1.4 to 7.8 units (mean value +/- SEM, 4.69 +/- 0.60, N = 11), that of laminin ranged from 100 to 3,900 ng (mean value +/- SEM, 1,154 +/- 325, N = 10), and that of type IV collagen ranged from 160 to 420 ng (mean value +/- SEM, 306 +/- 26.5 ng, N = 8). In proteinuric rats from groups A (N = 11) and B (N = 9), the 24 hour urinary excretion of neutral proteinases significantly increased (mean values +/- SEM, 38.55 +/- 8.66 U for A rats and 42.17 +/- 7.92 U for B rats) and ran parallely with that of proteins, laminin and type IV collagen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Histochemical studies of renal biopsies of nephrotic children.

Histopathological and histochemical studies were done on renal biopsies taken from twenty nephrotic children and thirty Albino rats of which fifteen were rendered nephrotic by the intravenous injection of nephrotoxic serum and the other fifteen served as controls. There were reduced activities of succinic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and non-specific esterases enzymes. These changes may be secondary to the insult which caused the nephrotic syndrome, or the result of the heavy proteinuria. In conclusion, a derangement in carbohydrate metabolism may underlie the disturbed metabolism of the basement membrane, the distortion of the foot-processes, and the tubular dysfunction.