Administration of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), prepared
on mouse albumin, to normal young adult mice, resulted in an increase
in mean glomerular volume and up-regulation of laminin B1 and alpha 1
type IV collagen mRNAs measured by competitive PCR in single microdis
sected glomeruli. Both glomerular hypertrophy and overexpression of ge
nes coding for extracellular matrix were abrogated when aminoguanidine
, an inhibitor of AGE cross-linking, was added to the AGEs injections,
suggesting that the glomerular response to AGEs was specific. The eff
ects of AGEs administration in vivo are comparable to those occuring i
n the early stage of diabetic nephropathy, suggesting a participation
of AGEs in these events.