CHANGES IN KIDNEY VOLUME DURING PREGNANCY IN NONDIABETIC AND DIABETICRATS MEASURED BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Consecutive magnetic resonance images were obtained in pregnant animal s and their respective controls, and changes in kidney, cortex, medull a, and pelvis volumes were calculated. In non-diabetic pregnant animal s, a marked increase in kidney and cortex volumes was observed within the first 15 days of pregnancy (29 and 20%, respectively), while no si gnificant changes were seen in medulla or pelvic volumes. Five days la ter (near term) and after delivery, kidney and cortex volumes had decr eased to values before pregnancy. In pregnant diabetic animals, a 26% increase in renal volume was seen over the first 15 days of pregnancy when compared to the increase seen in non-diabetic pregnant animals. P regnant diabetic animals had a parallel increase in cortex and medulla volumes, but still no changes in the pelvis volume. In contrast to no n-diabetic pregnant animals a non-heterogeneous pattern in renal volum e was seen post partum, as not all animals normalized their renal volu me.