Chronic nicotine exposure reduces klotho expression and triggers different renal and hemodynamic responses in klotho-haploinsufficient mice.

The klotho gene, which encodes a single-pass transmembrane protein and a secreted protein, is expressed predominantly by the distal renal tubules and is related to calcium phosphorus metabolism, ion channel regulation, intracellular signaling pathways, and longevity. Klotho deficiency aggravates acute kidney injury and renal fibrosis. Exposure to nicotine also worsens kidney injury.

Maternal Hypercholesterolemia Associated with Nicotine Exposure in Adulthood May Induce Kidney Injury in Male Rats if Hypomagnesemia Occurs.

Background/aims: Maternal hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor to renal injury in rat pups at adulthood, especially if they feed a cholesterol-enriched diet after weaning. However, the renal function of male pups of dams with hypercholesterolemia (PH) that were fed a regular chow from weaning to adulthood needs investigation, particularly those exposed to an adverse risk such as nicotine.

Methods: We evaluated the renal function of PH animals and we compared the data with those found in male pups of control dams (PC) at 3- and 6-month-old by inulin clearance.

Early predictors of acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infection: urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and cardiac output as reliable tools.

Background: Hemodynamic abnormalities and acute kidney injury (AKI) are often present in infected cirrhotic patients. Hence, an early diagnosis of AKI is necessary, which might require the validation of new predictors as the determinations of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and cardiac output.

Methods: We evaluated 18 infected cirrhotic patients subdivided into two groups at admission (0 hours).

Rosiglitazone did not induce acute kidney injury in normocholesterolemic rats despite reduction in glomerular filtration rate.

Background/aims: Rosiglitazone (RGL) has been used to ameliorate lipids homeostasis and also to treat inflammatory diseases. However, RGL may reduce renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) predisposing to acute kidney injury (AKI). We investigated whether the treatment with RGL induces AKI in normocholesterolemic (NC) and hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats.

High cholesterol feeding may induce tubular dysfunction resulting in hypomagnesemia.

Background/aims: Hypomagnesemia may induce hypercholesterolemia, but the contrary has not been described yet. Thus, magnesium homeostasis was evaluated in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet for 8 days. This study has a relevant clinical application if hypomagnesemia, due to hypercholesterolemia, is confirmed in patients with long-term hypercholesterolemia.

Effects of nicotine exposure on renal function of normal and hypercholesterolemic rats.

Background/aims: Renal risks of nicotine exposure associated with hypercholesterolemia are still unknown.

Methods: Thus, hypercholesterolemic rats (HC) and their control (C) were evaluated by inulin clearance (InCl) measured at baseline and during nicotine infusion (100 microg/kg b.w.

Study of erythrocyte ATPases in infants evaluated during the recovery phase of severe dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Background/aims: Patients severely dehydrated from diarrhea are at risk of developing hyperkalemia consequent to fluid therapy treatment. In parallel with the regulation of external potassium balance by the kidney and gastrointestinal tract, plasma potassium is rapidly regulated by redistribution of potassium between the extracellular and intracellular compartments. Erythrocytes contain ATPases that play a role in this potassium movement.

Angiotensin receptor subtypes in thin and muscular juxtamedullary efferent arterioles of rat kidney.

ANG II controls the vascular tone of pre- and postglomerular arterioles, and thereby glomerular filtration, through binding to either AT1A, AT1B, or AT2 receptors. AT1 receptors, which are coupled to intracellular Ca2+ signaling, have vasoconstricting effects, whereas AT2 receptors, whose signaling mechanism is unknown, induce vasodilatation. The angiotensin receptors have been characterized in afferent arterioles, which express the three types of receptors, but not in efferent arterioles.

Effects of maternal hypercholesterolemia on pregnancy and development of offspring.

The effect of maternal hypercholesterolemia on the course of pregnancy and the development of offspring was investigated. Rats were fed either an enriched-cholesterol diet (HC) or a standard diet (control) from 1 week before mating until weaning of offspring. Compared with the control group, HC dams showed a fourfold increase in abortions, a twofold increase in neonatal mortality, smaller litter size, and lower birth weight of pups.

ACE and non-ACE mediated effect of angiotensin I on intracellular calcium mobilization in rat glomerular arterioles.

Because renin and angiotensin I (ANG I) level are high in the renal circulation, the conversion of ANG I is a critical step in the regulation of glomerular hemodynamics. We studied this conversion by investigating the effect of ANG I on intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in rat juxtamedullary glomerular afferent and efferent arterioles (AA and EA, respectively). Two types of EA were considered, thin EA and muscular EA, terminating as peritubular capillaries and vasa rectae, respectively.