GLOMERULAR FUNCTION IN SPONTANEOUSLY DIABETIC RATS

This study was undertaken to determine whether hyperfiltration exists at the single nephron level and whether albumin excretion is increased early in the course of diabetes in Biobreeding rats. Diabetic rats were studied at 8-12 weeks after the onset of diabetes. Control animals were age-matched, diabetes-resistant rats. Urinary and tubular fluid albumin concentrations were measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Clearance and micropuncture techniques were used to determine whole kidney and single nephron glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, and glomerular capillary pressure. The urinary albumin excretion rate (1.3 +/- 0.1 mg/24 hr) and the tubular fluid albumin concentration (4.7 +/- 0.7 mg/dl) in the diabetic group were significantly elevated when compared with urinary albumin excretion (0.9 +/- 0.1 mg/24 hr) and tubular fluid albumin concentration (2.5 +/- 0.5 mg/dl) in the control group. There were no significant differences in glomerular hemodynamics (whole kidney or single nephron glomerular filtration rate or glomerular capillary pressure) between diabetic and control rats. The kidney weight and kidney weight to body weight ratio were significantly higher in diabetic rats when compared with control rats. Early diabetes in Biobreeding rats is characterized by mild albuminuria and increased kidney size, but not glomerular hyperfiltration.