RENAL MORPHOLOGICAL-CHANGES AFTER SINOAORTIC DENERVATION IN DOGS

The present study investigates morphological renal lesions in sinoaort ic-denervated dogs 1 (n = 6) and 18 (n = 5) months after sinoaortic de nervation compared with sham-operated controls (n = 8). After 1 month, a marked hyalinization and moderate thickening of the media of arteri oles and small interlobular arteries were observed. These changes asso ciated with edema and intimal thickening led to a narrowing of the lum en. In glomeruli, increase of mesangial matrix was focally present in all cases and associated with mesangial proliferation. In four of six cases, some glomeruli appeared retracted, with a large urinary space. A focal area of interstitial fibrosis occurred in just one case. After 18 months, similar but more pronounced vascular lesions were present, with marked hyperplasia of the media. Glomerular changes were charact erized by mesangial lesions associated with focal glomerular sclerosis and thickening of Bowman's capsule. Tubulointerstitial lesions were m ore prominent in this group, with the presence of tubular epithelial c hanges and casts. Focal interstitial fibrosis, infiltrates, or both we re demonstrated in all cases. These morphological lesions were associa ted with an increase in arterial blood pressure, proteinuria, and natr iuresis and a decrease in urinary kallikrein. These results show that chronic sinoaortic denervation in dogs is associated with renal lesion s similar to those observed in other well-established experimental and clinical hypertensive states.