Biomedical subjects

G H Cope

Publications and source records attributed to G H Cope.

38 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Localization of PDGF-BB in the juxtaglomerular cells of cyclosporin-treated rats.

We have examined the ultrastructural localization of immunoreactive platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in Wistar rats injected with cyclosporin A (CyA, 12.5 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. CyA injections resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine (47 +/- 3 vs. 35 +/- 2 mumol/l, p < 0.05) and a reduction in creatinine clearance (0.29 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.53 +/- 0.04 ml/min/100 g b.w., p < 0.01). CyA-treated rats displayed marked hypertrophy and hypergranularity of the juxtaglomerular cells. Morphometric studies showed a significant increase in the number (2.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.3, p < 0.05) and a 60% increase in the volume of secretion granules within these cells. PDGF was detected exclusively within the secretion granules of the juxtaglomerular cells of the afferent arterioles of CyA-treated animals. We conclude that CyA therapy or its induced haemodynamic alterations result in increased accumulation of PDGF-BB within the secretion granules of the juxtaglomerular cells.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Insulin-like growth factor-I and experimental diabetic kidney disease.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of experimental diabetic renal growth. In this study, we have examined the serial changes of renal IGF-I, by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemistry, in rats made diabetic by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg). The kidney IGF-I content, as determined by RIA, increased within 48 h of the induction of diabetes mellitus, peaked on day 4 and returned to normal levels by day 30. Renal IGF-I correlated positively with the severity of hyperglycaemia on day 7 (r = 0.685, p < 0.001). Immunostaining showed IGF-I to be located within the cortical collecting ducts of normal rats. In diabetic rats, IGF-I also appeared within the cells of the thick ascending limbs of the loops of Henle, in particular those undergoing cytoplasmic vacuolation. The changes in immunoreactive IGF-I assessed stereologically were consistent with the amounts of extractable IGF-I. They were not observed in normoglycaemic, STZ-injected, rats treated with high-dose insulin. This study suggests that IGF-I is involved in diabetic tubular injury and growth.

Animals↗