Effects of extracorporeal shock waves on renal morphology, renal function and blood pressure in rats--follow-up for one year

Abstract

Effects of extracorporeal shock waves on renal tissue, renal function, and blood pressure were studied by applying 500 shock waves to both kidneys in 72 female Wistar rats. Six groups, 12 rats in each, were sacrificed on days, 1, 7 and at months 1, 3, 6 and 12 after the procedure, when serum levels of BUN, creatinine, urine levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), 28-kDa carbindin-D and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were determined. Findings were then compared with those from the control group. In each group, both kidneys were weighed and histologically evaluated. In the treatment group, systolic blood pressure was measured at post-irradiation months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12; plasma renin activity was studied 6 and 12 months after irradiation to make evaluation in comparison with the control group. In the treatment group, histologically, coagulative necrosis associated with bleeding around the renal tubules and tubular epithelial cell degeneration were marked on day 1, but the glomerulus was kept in relatively good shape. Inflammatory cellular infiltration and interstitial fibrosis were noted on day 7 and the addition of scar formation 1 month after irradiation. Interstitial fibrosis, inflammatory cellular infiltration, scar formation, and tubular epithelial degeneration remained significant even after 12 months. In the treatment group, kidneys weighed significantly more than in the control group from day 1 through month 3, with edema likely accounting for this. However, weight then significantly declined 12 months after irradiation, owing to suspected scarring atrophy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)