Standard renal clearance techniques were used to investigate the acute effects of TRH on kidney function in anaesthetized rats. A significant reduction in salt and water outputs, glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow was produced within 10 min of infusion of 12 μg TRH over 30 min. The rapidity of the response may suggest a direct effect of TRH on the renal vascular system.
J. Endocr. (1987) 113,445–448
Metabolic and isotopic dilution techniques were used to investigate fluid balance and fluid volumes in rats made diabetic with streptozotocin before and after infusion. Uninfused diabetic rats had significantly (P < 0·01) lower total body water than controls (57·7±2·2 vs 65·7±1·4% (s.e.m.) fat free mass). This was due exclusively to a significantly (P < 0·001) reduced intracellular fluid volume (38·2±1·5 vs 45·4±1·4% fat free mass). Metabolic studies over the preceding 2 weeks showed that the fluid deficit in the diabetic group had resulted from a failure of the rats to increase their fluid intake to the same extent as their combined fluid losses. A 4-h saline infusion halved the fluid deficit in diabetic animals. The retained fluid was used to restore intracellular fluid volume which became comparable in diabetic and control rats (47·2±2·0 vs 46·4±1·0% fat free mass). The retention of infusate by diabetic animals to counteract their intracellular dehydration may partly explain the reduced urine output reported elsewhere in infused anaesthetized diabetic rats.
Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 333–337
Whole kidney and renal micropuncture techniques were used to investigate the effects of chronic prolactin treatment on kidney function in anaesthetized female rats. At the whole kidney level, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fluid reabsorption were both significantly (P<0·02) increased in the hormone-treated group. At the single nephron level, GFR and proximal fluid reabsorption were also increased (P<0·05) by prolactin treatment. Fractional reabsorption was also enhanced at the proximal tubular level in hormone-treated animals. Such changes in renal function are similar to those seen in rat pregnancy and cervically stimulated pseudopregnancy. Since circulating prolactin concentrations are increased in both reproductive states, the hormone may play an important role in establishing the characteristic renal changes seen therein.
J. Endocr. (1985) 107, 127–131
The effect of age and the role of the pituitary and gonads on the change in liver oestrogen hydroxylase activity induced by oestrone and testosterone has been investigated. Testosterone increased the hydroxylation of oestradiol in immature rats but had no effect in adult female animals unless they had been ovariectomized. In male rats, hypophysectomy resulted in a rapid decrease in oestrogen metabolism which could not be reversed by treatment with testosterone. Oestrone produced reversible changes in oestrogen hydroxylation in adult male rats in contrast to the irreversible effects observed in immature animals. The significance of these results in the control of oestrogen metabolism is discussed.
It has been shown previously (Jellinck & Lucieer, 1965) that liver microsomes derived from male rats convert a higher proportion of [14C]oestradiol to its 2-hydroxy derivative and to water-soluble products than similar preparations from female rats. This sex difference in oestrogen metabolism could be altered by changing the hormonal environment; male rats acquired a female metabolic pattern when implanted with a pellet of oestrone (Jellinck & Woo, 1967). A number of natural and synthetic oestrogens in pellet form were therefore tested to determine whether they had the same action as oestrone on rat liver microsomes. The effect of structurally related non-oestrogenic analogues was also examined.
Compounds to be tested were compressed into cylindrical pellets (15–25 mg.) and implanted into adult male hooded or Sprague-Dawley rats. The dose released from the pellets is very small (e.g. < 50 μg. oestrone or stilboestrol/day, Jellinck & Woo, 1967). The animals were killed
In-vivo microperfusion was used to localize the reabsorptive defect responsible for the hypercalciuria of diabetes mellitus and to investigate possible causative factors. Unidirectional proximal calcium absorption was not significantly different in rats made diabetic with streptozotocin compared with controls, providing evidence against the involvement of this nephron segment in the phenomenon. Calcium absorption by the loop of Henle, was however, significantly (P<0·01) lower in diabetic animals (32·1 ±1·2 vs 40·4±0·6 pmol/min). Based on our knowledge of calcium movements within the loop, it is likely that the reabsorptive defect resides within the thick ascending limb. The calcium lesion was found to be independent of acute changes in intraluminal glucose concentration and could not be corrected by acute insulin treatment. The study also provides new information on the relationship between intratubular glucose and fluid movements in the rat nephron. In diabetic rats a proximal perfusate containing 30 mmol glucose/l resulted in fluid absorption comparable with that seen in control rats perfused with 5 mmol glucose/l. However, intraluminal glucose had a stimulatory effect on fluid absorption in the loop of Henle of diabetic rats (10·7 ±0·5 vs 7·9±0·4 nl/min; P<0·01).
Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 131, 373–380
Hypercalciuria may be a contributory factor to the disturbed calcium homoeostasis seen in diabetic pregnant rats and their offspring. In diabetes, essential fatty acid metabolism is impaired. We have therefore investigated whether feeding a diet supplemented with essential fatty acids will ameliorate the hypercalciuria of diabetic pregnancy and improve reproductive performance.
Female rats were fed a standard rat diet, a fat-free diet plus evening primrose oil or a fat-free diet plus sunflower oil. They were injected with streptozotocin or vehicle and mated. Urine samples were analysed for calcium before injection and during gestation.
Term-pregnant diabetic rats fed evening primrose oil showed a 73% reduction in urinary calcium output compared with similar rats fed standard diet (P<0·001). The corresponding reduction was 44% in diabetic rats fed sunflower oil (P<0·001). A depletion of essential fatty acids in diabetes may therefore be associated with hypercalciuria; dietary supplementation, particularly with evening primrose oil, appears to correct the problem.
Diabetic pregnant rats fed evening primrose oil showed a significantly greater live fetal mass (85 ± 2 vs 33 ± 12 g; P<0·05) compared with similar rats fed standard diet. Such findings may imply a normalization of placental transport by essential fatty acids. Rats fed evening primrose, but not sunflower oil, also showed a reduced incidence of diabetes after streptozotocin injection compared with rats fed standard diet (63 vs 86%). Rats fed on evening primrose oil that did become diabetic were less hyperglycaemic than those on the standard diet (29 ± 2 vs 37 ± 2 mmol/l), suggesting that the oil may have anti-diabetic properties.
Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 153, 357–363
Experimental diabetes in rats is associated with excessive electrolyte loss in the urine, which is further accentuated by pregnancy, particularly of Ca. Supplementation with essential fatty acids and antioxidants has proven beneficial in treating several types of complications, including nephropathy. The present study investigated the effect of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA; 500 mg/kg per day; group DG) and ascorbate (290 mg/kg per day; group DA), alone and in combination (group DGA), as well as ascorbyl-GLA (790 mg/kg per day; group DASG), on urinary electrolyte output and skeletal composition in pregnant streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Urine was collected in metabolism cages before and throughout pregnancy. Diabetic rats (DP) increased their urine volume as compared with control (CP) throughout the experiment, reaching an output of more than 13 times that of the control group by the end of pregnancy (CP 24+/-4, DP 316+/-21, DG 223+/-21, DA 221+/-14, DASG 163+/-17, DGA 220+/-19 ml urine/24 h). Concomitant with increased urine volume was a reduction of urinary Na (CP 47+/-14, DP 22+/-5 mmol/l), K (CP 210+/-34, DP 31+/-1 mmol/l) and Mg (CP 14+/-1, DP 3.8+/-0.2 mmol/l) concentration, but not of Ca concentration (CP 5.4+/-1.5, DP 6.3+/-0.6 mmol/l), and hence total Ca loss was relatively most severe. All the treatments reduced urine volume with no effects on electrolyte concentration as compared with DP, with no significant difference between the treatments. A reduced bone size and bone Ca content was partially ameliorated by the diet supplementation. We have concluded that GLA and ascorbate, alone or in combination, prevent urinary electrolyte loss in pregnant rats and do so by reducing urine production.
The effect of maternal diabetes mellitus on renal calcium excretion in pregnant rats and their offspring has been examined in order to ascertain the role of the kidney in the disturbed calcium homeostasis of infants born to diabetic mothers. Diabetic pregnant (DP) rats exhibited severe hypercalciuria which greatly exceeded the urinary calcium losses (UCaV) in non-diabetic pregnant (CP) or non-pregnant diabetic (D) rats. Means ± s.e.m. for UCaV at day 21 (mmol/24 h) were: DP=1·12± 0·09 (n=7); CP=0·06±0·01 (n=7); D=0·63±0·06 (n=7) (P<0·001 DP vs CP and DP vs D). The profile for urinary calcium excretion in the three groups was different from that of other measured ions. The degree of natriuresis, for example, was comparable in DP and D rats at all stages studied. Although magnesium output was significantly greater in DP than D rats on days 14 and 21, this appeared to result from an additive effect of the magnesiuresis seen when pregnancy and diabetes were studied separately.
The marked renal calcium wasting of diabetic pregnancy will have implications for overall calcium balance in the mother. For example, an enhanced intestinal calcium absorption was seen in DP rats in the second half of gestation. Means ± s.e.m. for day 21 (mmol/24 h) were: DP=3·8±0·8 (n=7); CP=1·4±0·3 (n=7); D=1·6±0·3 (n=7) (P<0·05 DP vs CP and DP vs D). The hypercalciuria may also contribute to the disturbed calcium homeostasis of the neonate if it reduces the amount of calcium available for transfer to the fetus.
In contrast to their mothers, the offspring of DP rats did not show a raised UCaV compared with CP pups. Means ± s.e.m. at day 1 postpartum (nmol/2 h per pup) were: DP=47·2±15·7 (n=4 litters); CP=72·2±14·1 (n=7 litters) (not significant). Changes in neonatal renal function are therefore unlikely to contribute to their disturbed calcium balance. In fact, their slightly reduced urinary calcium output may be an attempt to compensate for their lowered total body calcium as reported elsewhere.
Journal of Endocrinology (1995) 145, 11–18
Plasma samples were obtained throughout pregnancy and pseudopregnancy from Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats and during pregnancy from rats of the Munich Wistar (MW) strain. The concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol, prolactin, plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone and corticosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay to establish hormonal profiles in the two strains of rat.
Circulating progesterone concentrations in both strains of rat were significantly higher during pregnancy than in virgin controls, except at term in the SD group. The hormonal pattern for pseudopregnancy was similar to that of the first half of pregnancy. Oestradiol concentrations were similar to, or lower than, those in virgin controls throughout pseudopregnancy and for the first 2 weeks of pregnancy in both strains of rat. Increased concentrations of steroid were seen only in the pregnant groups towards term. In SD rats, highest prolactin concentrations were apparent during the first half of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy, and at term in the pregnant group. Pregnant MW rats showed a different profile for this hormone, with low levels throughout pregnancy except at term. In all groups PRA rose to a peak at day 9 and decreased to day 16. Pregnant SD rats also showed a significant increase at term. Aldosterone concentrations were significantly increased at several stages of pregnancy in both strains of rat, particularly during the second half of gestation. Pseudopregnant animals showed a different hormone profile, with no significant changes until day 16 when lower concentrations were recorded. There was little variation in the circulating corticosterone concentration except in pregnant rats at term when levels fell.
These findings are discussed in relation to the known renal changes of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy.
J. Endocr. (1987) 113, 435–444
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