Abstract
Renal glomeruli of 11- to 15- and 19- to 23-month-old nondiabetic (M) and diabetic (XA and AC) genetic sublines of Chinese hamsters were morphometrically analyzed to determine if minimal capillary basement membrane thickening (CBMT) is a microvascular complication in this animal model. Minimal glomerular capillary basement membrane thickness was significantly elevated in the AC diabetic subline (117.2 nm ± 5.0, P < 0.004) compared with the M nondiabetic subline (99.0 nm ± 14.0) in the 11- to 15-month age span. However, in the 19- to 23-month age range, both the XA (140.2 nm ± 20.0, P < 0.02) and AC (140.1 nm ± 12.4, P < 0.04) diabetic sublines displayed significantly greater glomerular capillary basement membrane thickness in comparison with the M nondiabetic subline (119.0 nm ± 13.4). The greatest influence on CBMT in the diabetics was shown to be a combination of the aging process and severity of hyperglycemia. This initial systematic morphometric study has demonstrated that glomerular CBMT is a characteristic microvascular lesion in 11- to 15-month-old diabetic AC and 19- to 23-month-old diabetic XA and AC Chinese hamsters in comparison with age-matched nondiabetics. Furthermore, this investigation suggests that the Chinese hamster appears to be an acceptable model for the study of chronic complications associated with diabetic nephropathy.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
