Ischemic acute renal failure: Long-term histology of cell and matrix changes in the rat

Abstract

Background. The cellular infiltration and matrix accumulation accompanying acute renal ischemia and reperfusion have been frequently noted but poorly defined. The long-term consequences of ischemia may irreversibly damage the kidney. Methods. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200 g) underwent unilateral nephrectomy. After five days, the left renal pedicle was occluded for 45 minutes. Animals were sacrificed at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 180 days postischemia (N = 6). Immunohistochemistry for monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Mφ, ED-1), myofibroblasts [α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)], collagen III and IV, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and terminal dUTP ..