Animal model of diabetic nephropathy

Injection of subtotally nephrectomized rats with streptozotocin produced me tabolic abnormalities resembling diabetic nephropathy in humans. These abno rmalities were hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, azotemia, hypertriglyceridem ia and hypercholesterolemia, accompanied with an increase in glycosylated p rotein. Extraordinary changes in the urinary excretion of glucose and prote in were also observed in rats that received streptozotocin treatment after subtotal nephrectomy. In addition, the level of creatinine clearance was si gnificantly decreased. The pathological findings in the kidney of these rat s revealed lesions of the glomerular capillary loops, mesangial area and Bo wman's capsule. Coagulation was also found in the glomerular capillaries. O ur results suggest that this rat model would be useful for studies of diabe tic nephropathy.