The effect of darbepoetin alfa on the glomerulus of new-born mice with intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. Intrauterine growth restriction is a condition in which a fetus is not able to achieve its genetic potential for growth. It has been linked with diseases of adulthood, such as hypertension, insulin-independent diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The objective of the study was to investigate whether the application of darbepoetin alfa during pregnancy and in first week of life affects the number or size of the kidney glomerulus of mice with intrauterine growth restriction. Methods. We used animal model of intrauterine growth restriction. Darbepoetin alfa was administered to the pups on the first and the seventh day of life (doses of 1 μg/kg, 4 μg/kg, and 10 μg/kg). Two of seven groups represented the offspring of the mothers who received darbepoetin alfa during pregnancy. Four weeks after birth, kidney samples were taken, and morphological and stereological analysis of the glomeruli was performed. Results. Administration of darbepoetin alfa to newborn mice with intrauterine growth restriction led to faster weight gain in the first seven days of life. Mice born with this restriction had reduced glomerular surface and reduced cortical thickness. The application of darbepoetin alfa immediately after the birth and on the seventh day of life (4 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg, respectively) led to glomerular hypertrophy and increased thickness of the renal cortex. The application of darbepoetin alfa had no effect on the number of glomeruli. Conclusion. The administration of darbepoetin alfa to mice with intrauterine growth restriction significantly increases the surface area of the kidney glomeruli and cortical thickness.

Keywords

• intrauterine growth restriction
• darbepoetin alfa
• kidney
• glomerulus