FIGURE 6.

EMPA does not protect from renal damage in uninephrectomized GC-A KO mice. Mice with deletion of the GC-A (GC-A KO) were subjected to UNx and split in 2 groups (n = 8–9 animals per group), an EMPA-treated cohort and a H₂O control cohort. (A) Single kidney GFR was elevated at 2 and 6 weeks post UNx in both groups. EMPA did not affect glomerular hyperfiltration. (B) Urine albumin excretion increased in all animals with a tendency towards higher albuminuria in EMPA-treated animals. SGLT2 inhibition caused glucosuria (C), increased water intake and diuresis (D), but no changes in plasma renin concentration (E). (F) Masson-Goldner staining on kidney sections showed almost no fibrotic areas in all animals regardless of EMPA-treatment. This was confirmed by automated quantitative image analysis (G). (H) Fibrosis genes fibronectin, alpha-SMA and collagen1a1 were not affected by EMPA. (I) Kidney/bodyweight and bodyweight (J) were not significantly different between EMPA and H₂O mice. Bar charts show mean values (±SEM). * p < 0.05 vs. H₂O; # p < 0.05 vs. baseline. EMPA, empagliflozin; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; UNx, unilateral nephrectomy; wk, weeks; bw, bodyweight.