The Early Effects of Dietary Restriction on the Pathogenesis of Chronic Renal Disease in Sprague-Dawley Rats at 12 Months

This study evaluated the effects of different diets and dietary regimens on the pathogenesis of chronic renal disease (CRD) in Sprague-Dawley rats at 52 wk and correlated these data with survival at 106 wk. A commercial diet (5002) was compared to a modified diet (5002-9) with less protein, fat, and energy and more fiber. Both diets were fed by ad libitum (AL) or dietary restriction (DR) regimens. The glomerular area (GA), glomerular sclerotic index (GSI), tubulo-interstitial index (TII), and tubular labeling index (tubular LI) were measured. The 5002-9 diet fed AL did not decrease the severity of CRD or increase survival, nor did the 5002 diet fed 6.5 hr/day. Both diets fed by DR did improve CRD and survival. Both AL groups had higher indices, and the 5002 AL males had the highest GA and GSI. These data indicate that the initial events in CRD occur as glomerular hypertrophy. Because the TII and tubular LI were only increased with advanced CRD, tubulo-interstitial damage did not occur until the glomerular...