The effects of heparin on renal morphology and albuminuria in
experimental diabetes.
Marshall, Sally M, Klavs W Hansen, Ruth Osterby, Jan Frystyk, Hans
Orskov, and Allan Flyvbjerg.
Institute of Experimental Clinical Research, University of Aarhus
and Medical Department M (Diabetes and Endocrinology), University
Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
APStracts 3:0093E, 1996.
Female non-diabetic and streptozotocin diabetic Wistar rats received
heparin 200 U twice daily by subcutaneous injection for 6 months.
Mesangial volume fraction was reduced in heparin-treated control (CH)
compared to untreated control (C) animals (CH 0.18+/-0.02 vs C
0.24+/-0.02, P<0.05) but other histological parameters were
similar. In the heparin-treated diabetic (DH) group, wet kidney
weight was increased compared to the untreated diabetic (D) group (DH
1156+/-39 vs D 1050+/-30 mg, P<0.05), as were absolute, but not
fractional, glomerular volume (P<0.05) and capillary volume
(P<0.05). Basement membrane thickness (DH 193+/-3 vs D 231+/-9
nm, P<0.01) and mesangial/glomerular volume fraction
(P<0.001) were decreased. Urinary albumin excretion was
increased in the heparin-treated control animals compared to control
animals (CH 980 (150-4446) vs C 221 (86-654) [mu]g/24 h,
P<0.001) and in the heparin-treated diabetic compared to the
diabetic animals (DH 12785 (4495-29520) vs D 899 (450-1335) [mu]g/24
h, P<0.001). Thus the possibly deleterious increases in
glomerular capillary volume and albumin excretion may negate the
beneficial effects of heparin on mesangial and basement membrane
structures.
Received 19 September 1995; accepted in final form 19 February
1996.
APS Manuscript Number E457-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 May 96