Proteinuria in the bovine serum albumin loaded rats is aggravated by genetically determined hypertension.

The effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA) loading on urinary protein excretion rate (PU) were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive (Okamoto) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar rats. Baseline PU was greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats of both sexes than in the corresponding normotensive groups. Male rats excreted more protein than females. A significant direct correlation could be demonstrated between blood pressure and PU induced by BSA. Glomerular epithelial cell foot process fusion rate was significantly greater in female spontaneously hypertensive rats than in all other groups and correlated with PU increase, especially in female spontaneously hypertensive rats. This study therefore indicates that hypertension which is acquired independently of the glomerular lesion induced by BSA administration accentuates proteinuria in this model of disease.