Mesenchymal Stem cells Ameliorate Diabetic Renocortical Changes In A Rat Model: Histological, Morphometrical And Biochemical Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most leading complication of renal disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)therapy holds an excellent promise in the repair of injured tissues and organs. However, the precise effects of MSCs on renalcellular injury remain unclear.Objective: This work was designed to evaluate the possible reno-therapeutic role of MSCs in experimental streptozotocin(STZ)-induced DN in adult female albino rat model.Materials and Methods: Adult female albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I (control), Group II (diabetic group)and Group III (diabetic/MSCs treated group) where 1X10^6 iron oxide-labeled MSCs was infused once in rat tail vein. Bloodglucose levels and biochemical parameters of the kidney function such as serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN)and uric acid were estimated. After 8 weeks, kidney specimens were processed for light and electron microscopic studies.Morphometric measurements and statistical analyses were done.Results: STZ injection caused destructive glomerular, proximal (PCT) and distal (DCT) convoluted tubular changes within therenal tissue in the form of sloughed epithelium, vacuolated cytoplasm, pyknotic nuclei, congested blood vessels and mononuclearinflammatory cells infiltration that was supported by a significant increase in plasma concentrations of Cr, BUN and uric acidlevels coupled to a significant elevation of Periodic-Acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction and increase in area percentage of collagenfibers. The ultrastructural assessment confirmed these distortions. In contrast, MSCs significantly corrected hyperglycemia andrenal biochemical parameters with critical improvement in renal histopathological changes depicted previously.Conclusion: MSC-based therapies may play a substantial therapeutic role in DN.