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CONGRESS OF THE ESPU
16:17–16:20
S3-8 (PP)
RENAL REGENERATIVE CAPACITY RELATED TO STEM
CELL RESERVE IN NEPHRECTOMIZED RATS
Songul ARABUL
1
, Mustafa MELIKOGLU
1
, Necdet DEMIR
2
, Esma KONUK
2
,
Gungor KARAGUZEL
1
and Cem BONEVAL
1
1) Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Antalya, TURKEY - 2) Akdeniz University
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Antalya, TURKEY
PURPOSE
Although regenerative response of kidneys to partial/total nephrectomy is important from point
of urological and nephrological morbidities, our information on this subject is rather limited. This
experimental study was conducted to investigate renal regenerative capacity related to kidney stem
cell reserve in different nephrectomy models.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Three-week-old rat pups (n=84) and 8-week-old young adult rats (n=84) were randomly divided into
four groups including controls and three nephrectomy subgroups (unilateral 1/3 nephrectomy, uni-
lateral total nephrectomy, and 5/6 nephrectomy). In each group, biochemical (BUN and creatinine),
immunofluorescence (stem cell reserve assessment with CD90 and CD105) and immunohisto-
chemical (Ki67 as a proliferative marker) examinations were performed on postoperative days 15,
30 and 60.
RESULTS
While BUN values were significantly increased in unilateral total and 5/6 nephrectomized rats
(p <0.01), creatinine levels were significantly higher only in 5/6 nephrectomized rats (p> 0.05).
When both age groups and all postoperative periods were considered, 8-week old rats undergone
5/6 nephrectomy had the highest CD90 and CD105 positivity. The positivity involved renal tubules
on postoperative day 15 and then reached the highest level on postoperative day 60 by involv-
ing glomeruli and interstitial cells. The highest proliferative activity was seen in unilateral total and
5/6 nephrectomy subgroups of 3-week-old pups.
CONCLUSIONS
Kidneys may pose a regenerative response to tissue/volume loss through its own stem cell reserve.
This response supports that kidneys may have a potential to overcome tissue/volume loss-related
damage. However, further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to determine the exact
role of stem cells on renal regenerative capacity.