Original scientific paper
Effect of Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction and Anti-angiotensin II Treatment on Renal Tubule and Interstitial Cell Apoptosis in Rats
Nikola Radović
; Department of Urology, Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Čuzić
; Investigative Laboratory, Pliva, Zagreb, Croatia
Mladen Knotek
; Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
(cilazapril) and angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist (losartan) on
tubular and interstitial cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in rats with
obstructive nephropathy after unilateral ureteral obstruction.
Methods Rats with unilateral obstructive nephropathy and sham-operated
rats were treated with cilazapril, losartan, or the vehicle (water).
Tubular and interstitial cell apoptosis was detected morphologically on
hematoxylin and eosin-stained renal specimens and by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl
transferase-mediated nick end-labeling. Caspase-3 activity
in whole-kidney tissue homogenates was measured colorimetrically.
Results After unilateral ureter ligation, there was a significant increase in
the number of apoptotic tubular and interstitial cells in the obstructed
kidney (13.17 ± 8.73 vs. 3.00 ± 4.53 cells per high power field; P = 0.049
and 6.33 ± 3.27 vs 2.00 ± 2.35 cells per high power field; P = 0.036,
respectively, vs sham-operated rats, 10 days after ligation). In rats with
unilateral obstructive nephropathy, neither cilazapril nor losartan had an
effect on tubular cell apoptosis. However, cilazapril caused a significant
increase in the number of renal apoptotic interstitial cells (7.00 ± 9.74 vs
0.8 ± 1.41 cells per high power field, P = 0.019). Caspase-3 activity was
not significantly different in rats with unilateral obstructive nephropathy
than in sham-operated rats.
Conclusion Rats with unilateral obstructive nephropathy had increased
apoptosis of tubular and interstitial cells in comparison with sham-operated
rats. Neither cilazapril nor losartan had an effect on tubular cell
apoptosis, and cilazapril even increased interstitial cell apoptosis.
Keywords
obstructive nephropathy; apoptosis; angiotensin II; caspase-3; ACE inhibitors; AT1 receptor antagonist
Hrčak ID:
29273
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2008.
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