The effects of subtotal pancreatectomy on renal growth in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Increases in kidney size and function are characteristic features of the early stages of Type I diabetes mellitus, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Other studies have shown that the relative circulating concentrations of insulin and glucagon may be regulatory to renal growth and function. In order to elucidate the role of pancreatic glucagon in diabetic renal growth, subtotal pancreatectomy was performed prior to administration of streptozotocin to rats. Glycosuria and kidney weight were significantly reduced by subtotal pancreatectomy, although creatinine clearance and blood glucose levels were not different from diabetic controls. These data suggest that hyperglucagonemia may be an important mediator of renal growth in insulinopenic diabetes mellitus.