Effects of Klotho supplementation on hyperoxia-induced renal injury in a rodent model of postnatal nephrogenesis.

Background: Hyperoxia (HO) causes kidney injury in preterm infants; however, whether these effects are modifiable is unknown. We hypothesized that administration of exogenous soluble Klotho, a kidney-derived antioxidant, would attenuate HO-induced kidney injury during postnatal nephrogenesis in rats.

Methods: Sprague Dawley neonatal rats assigned to normoxia (21% O) or HO (85% O) groups from postnatal day (P) 1 to 21 were randomly assigned to receive alternate day intraperitoneal injections of recombinant Klotho or placebo for 3 weeks.