Diminished glomerular capillary hydraulic conductivity precedes morphologic changes in experimental diabetes mellitus in the rat.

Glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, Kf, is diminished in established diabetic nephropathy. To determine whether Kf is decreased because of a decrease in capillary area, A, and or in hydraulic conductivity, Lp, glomerular Kf and morphometric parameters were measured, and Lp was calculated in glomeruli of young rats with STZ-induced DM and in control rats. STZ was administered to Fischer 344 rats that weighted 50-75 g; glomeruli were examined after 3 or 5 mo of DM, and their structure and function was compared with that of control rats. The effects of insulin or of an ACEI, enalapril, also were assessed after 3 or 5 mo. Growth of DM rats was markedly impaired, and their ratio of kidney weight to body weight was increased. Ccr was proportional to rat weight, and the ratio of Ccr to body weight was not different in DM and control rats. At 3 mo, average volume of glomeruli isolated from DM rats was less than that of glomeruli from control rats. In contrast, glomerular volume after 5 mo was equal in DM and control rats. No increase in GBM thickness or mesangial volume was observed, nor was any decrease seen in GBM area in DM rats at 5 mo. Kf was lower in DM rats than controls after 3 mo, but not after 5 mo. The Lp of DM and control glomeruli did not differ at 3 mo, but was lower in DM at 5 mo. Insulin therapy improved somatic growth and increased kidney and glomerular size in DM rats; the kidney weight/body weight ratio remained elevated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)