Estimation of Glomerular Volume in Rats with Glycerol-Induced Acute Renal Failure

The use of stereological methods in evaluation of volume changes in vital organs such as kidney is very important. In this study, the volume of glomeruli in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats was determined.

48 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 2 groups (1control, 1experiment). Experimental group was injected 10ml/kg of 50% glycerol intramuscularly, while the same volume of saline was injected in the control group. After 48h, animals were dissected under deep anesthesia, and right kidneys were fixed by vascular perfusion. Microscopic slides were stained with H-E. Glomerular volumes were calculated using projecting microscope, point counting and cavalieri principal.

The results indicated that renal failure induced-glycerol didn’t affect the glomerular volume

It seems that estimation of glomerular volume can not be a useful variable in identification of acute renal failure induced glycerol, but further investigations are needed to clarify the issue