Glomerulopathy in the KK.Cg-A^y/J Mouse Reflects the Pathology of Diabetic Nephropathy

Figure 3

Urine markers indicate glomerular injury in KK-𝐴^𝑦. (a) KK-𝐴^𝑦 mice exhibited consistent and progressive albuminuria, measured as albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) (𝑃<0.01 at all timepoints versus KK-a/a). No difference was observed in ACR between KK-𝐴^𝑦 and KK-𝐴^𝑦 + Unx. (b) Glomerular injury in KK-𝐴^𝑦 mice was suggested by progressive elevation of the podocyte-specific protein nephrin in the urine. Again, urine nephrin levels were comparable in KK-𝐴^𝑦 and KK-𝐴^𝑦 + Unx mice (𝑃<0.01 versus KK-a/a). (c) When compared to KK-a/a, the renal tubular marker Kim1 was also elevated in KK-𝐴^𝑦 mice. Interestingly, Kim1 levels in KK-𝐴^𝑦 + Unx animals were lower than in KK-𝐴^𝑦 mice.