Glomerulosclerosis in aging humans is not influenced by gender

Aging male rats develop progressive glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, and lo ss of renal function, whereas females are remarkably resistant to the devel opment of these abnormalities. Although sex hormones appear to contribute t o gender-related differences in the development of glomerulosclerosis in ag ing rats, it is not clear that sexual dimorphism characterizes glomerular o bsolescence in aging humans, To study this question further, the glomerular histology of males and females ranging in age from infancy to 90 years was compared in 250 autopsy specimens. We found no differences between the sex es in the development of glomerulosclerosis in aging humans. These data dis prove the hypothesis that testosterone is an important factor contributing to progressive glomerulosclerosis in aging men. Conversely, any renoprotect ive effects of estrogen would be limited by the onset of menopause because significant glomerulosclerosis did not develop until after the age of 50 ye ars. (C) 1999 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.