1. INTRODUCTION
This project is significant for a number of reasons. The most
important reasons are the increasing and economic burden of
kidney disease. The annual cost of treating end-stage renal
disease is currently over $32 billion a year. Currently,
approximately 485,000 Americans have been diagnosed with
kidney failure. The number of Americans with this advanced
stage of the disease is expected to grow to 785,000 by 2020.
The development of new therapies is needed to help physicians
learn more about the best treatment for kidney disease.
The T2DN rat strain was developed from the combined
genomes of the GK (known for developing type 2 diabetes
mellitus) and FHH (known for developing ESRD) strains. T2DN
rats exhibit glomerular abnormalities including GBM thickening,
mesangial expansion, and nodular formation as well as
progressive proteinuria. When studying the T2DN rat, the GK rat
strain serves as the control because they have little to no
progression of glomerular and renal disease. The most
interesting thing about he T2DN rat strain is that, unlike their
male counterparts, the female T2DN rats do not develop renal
disease.
CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION
The results of the GTT showed no significant difference between
the Male vs Female-Control group or the OVRX vs OVRX-DHT
groups. It was seen that by taking the ovaries out and giving back
DHT, there is not any major difference between plasma levels. The
Female-STZ group plasma level did resemble the male plasma
levels. The high excretion rate expected of the Female-STZ group
was shown by the high plasma glucose levels. Based on the results
of our experiments, we concluded that the sex hormones are not
responsible for the difference in blood glucose levels and protein
excretion in male and female T2DN rats.
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Ed by Johnson, Leonard R. Essential Medical Physiology. 3rd
Edition.
San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2003: 333-461.
Jacob, Stanley W. Structure and Function in Man. Philadelphia, PA:
W.B. Saunders Company, 1967. 417-433.
The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Boston, MA:
Houghton Muffin Company, 2002.
"The Urinary System." The Ultimate Medical Encyclopedia:
Understanding, Preventing, & Treating Medical Conditions. Ed. Martine
Podesto. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books Ltd., 2010.
"Vol. 21: Kidney and Urinary Tract Diseases and Disorders
Sourcebook." Health Reference Series. 1 vol. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics
Inc., 1997.
"Kidneys & Urinary Tract." Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Health Book.
Ed. Scott Litin, M.D. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Clinic for Medical
Education & Research, 2009.
ABSTRACT
The objectives of this research project was to determine what role (if any) the sex
hormones in the regulation of glucose & protein excretion. The rats in this
experiment were divided into 6 groups. The major groups were Males & Females.
The females were then subdivided into 5 groups, which were: Control, OVRX,
DHT, Control-DHT, OVRX-DHT, and STZ (mimics the high glucose levels of
males for proteinuria). Protein excretion was determined utilizing the urine
samples collected when the rats were placed in metabolic cages overnights.
Glucose Tolerance Tests were performed between the Male group and the
Female Control Group & the OVRX vs. OVRX-DHT groups to determine how
quickly the glucose levels were lowered after the rats were given 2 mg of glucose
per 1 kg of their weight. The results of the GTT showed no significant difference
between the Male vs Female-Control group or the OVRX vs OVRX-DHT groups.
It was seen that by taking the ovaries out and giving back DHT, there is not any
major difference between plasma levels. The Female-STZ group plasma level did
resemble the male plasma levels. The high excretion rate expected of the
Female-STZ group was shown by the high plasma glucose levels. Based on the
results of our experiments, we concluded that the sex hormones are not
responsible for the difference in blood glucose levels and protein excretion in
male and female T2DN rats.
Role of Sex Hormones in the Progression of Diabetes and Renal Disease in Female T2DN Rats
Kaniesha Baker1
and Jan M. Williams2
.
1
Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS and 2
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
•The rats in this experiment were divided into 6 groups.
The major groups were Males & Females. The females
were then subdivided into 5 groups, which were: Control,
OVRX, DHT, Control-DHT, OVRX-DHT, and STZ
(mimics the high glucose levels of males for proteinuria).
•Proteinuria: Protein excretion was determined utilizing
the urine samples collected when the rats were placed in
metabolic cages overnights.
•Glucose Tolerance Tests: Glucose Tolerance Tests
were performed between the Male group and the Female
Control Group & the OVRX vs. OVRX-DHT groups to
determine how quickly the glucose levels were lowered
after the rats were given 2 mg of glucose per 1 kg of their
weight.
RESULTS
Time (min)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
PlasmaGlucose(mg/dL)
0
100
200
300
400
Male (6)
Female (6)
Female + OVRX (3)
Female + OVRX + DHT (3)
†
†, <0.05 vs. Male
Figure 1. Alterations in sex hormones had no
effect on glucose tolerance
PlasmaGlucose(mg/dL)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Female
(control)
Female
(OVRX)
Female
(OVRX
+DHT)
Female
(STZ)
5 5 5 55
Male
Proteinexcretion(mg/day)
0
100
150
200
250
300
Female
(control)
Female
(OVRX)
Female
(OVRX
+DHT)
Female
(STZ)
5 5 5 55
Male
*, <0.05 Female (control) and †, <0.05 vs. Male
Figure 2. Modifications in sex hormones did
not alter
blood glucose levels or protein excretion