Table 1.
Physiologic and kidney function parameters in control rats as well as diabetic rats and diabetic wild-type and partially tuberin-deficient (TSC2+/−) rats treated with insulin
| Parameter | Controls | Diabetic TSC2+/+ Rats | Controls | Diabetic TSC2+/− Rats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streptozotocin Treatment | Streptozotocin and Insulin Treatment | Streptozotocin Treatment | Streptozotocin and Insulin Treatment | |||
| Blood glucose (mg/dl) | 108±5.9 | 426.8±49.3a | 83±30.4 | 110±10.5 | 482.8±68.3a | 113±6.1 |
| Body weight (g) | 391.7±22.7 | 284.0±9.6a | 391.3±11 | 375.5±19.5 | 275±16.1a | 380±14.3 |
| Kidney weight (g) | 2.51±0.17 | 3.33±0.25a | 2.97±0.13 | 3.18±0.16b | 4.0±0.39a,c | 2.5±0.15d |
| Kidney/body weight (g/g) ratio (%) | 0.65±0.04 | 1.16±0.07a | 0.76±0.05 | 0.83±0.05b | 1.45±0.08a,c | 0.66±0.03d |
| Albuminuria (mg protein/24 h) | 2.1±0.1 | 3.48±0.3a | 1.9±0.2 | 2.9±0.2b | 6.5±1.3a,c | 2.3±0.4 |
| Creatinine clearance (ml/min/kg) | 1.7±0.1 | 1.0±0.1a | 0.5±0.4d | 4.32±0.9b | 2.36±0.5a,c | 1.1±0.6d |
Tuberin deficiency significantly increases kidney hypertrophy, albuminuria, and creatinine clearance compared with wild-type rats. Partial deficiency in tuberin is associated with renal hypertrophy. Kidneys were harvested from wild-type and TSC2+/− rats. Kidney/body weight ratios, albuminuria, and creatinine clearance are significantly (P<0.05) higher in TSC2+/− rats compared with wild-type animals. Rats injected with buffer (controls), streptozotocin, or streptozotocin and insulin were sacrificed 4 weeks after diabetes was induced, and kidneys dissected and kidney/body weight ratios determined. Diabetes further increased the kidney/body weight ratios and albuminuria, and decreased creatinine clearance in TSC2+/− more than in TSC2+/+ rats and insulin treatment of diabetic animals normalized kidney/body weight and albuminuria.
P< 0.01, significant difference from control animals to diabetic animals.
P<0.05, significant difference between controls of the TSC2+/+ and TSC2+/− rats.
P<0.05, significant difference between diabetic TSC2+/+ and TSC2+/− rats.
P<0.05, significant difference between controls rats and the group of insulin-treated diabetic rats.