Renal function in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Renal function was examined with micropuncture methods in the insulin-treated streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Kidney glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the diabetic rats (1.21 ml/min) than in the control group (0.84 ml/min) Nephron glomerular filtration rate increased in proportion to the rise in kidney glomerular filtration rate (diabetic rats: 37.0 nl/min; control rats: 27.9 nl/min). Likewise renal plasma flow was significantly higher in the diabetic rats (4.1 ml/min) than in the control group (3.0 ml/min). Glomerular capillary pressure was identical in both groups (56.0 and 56.0 mmHg, respectively). The proximal intratubular pressure was significantly reduced in the diabetic rats (10.4 mmHg; control value: 12.5 mmHg). The effective glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient was slightly but not significantly higher in the diabetic rats (0.027 nl s-1mmHg-1) than in the control group (0.023 nl s-1mmHg-1). Kidney weight was significantly higher in the diabetic rats (1.15 g; control rats: 0.96 g) while body weight was similar in both groups (diabetic rats: 232 g; control rats: 238 g). Calculations indicate that the increases in transglomerular hydraulic pressure, renal plasma flow and ultrafiltration coefficient of the glomerular membrane contribute about equally to the rise in glomerular filtration rate. The increases in the values of the determinants of glomerular filtration rate may be the result of renal hypertrophy. These studies suggest that this model provides a useful method for investigating kidney function in diabetes, which may have relevance for our understanding of the kidney abnormalities in human diabetes.