Apoptosis parallels ceramide content in the developing rat kidney

Ceramide is emerging as an important hydrophobic sphingolipid involved in cell differentiation and apoptosis. Since apoptosis plays a significant role in cellular remodeling during renal morphogenesis, we measured ceramide content and apoptosis in the fetal (18 days gestation), neonatal (3, 7, and 1...

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Published in:Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, West) West), 2000-12, Vol.15 (3-4), p.188-191
Main Authors: Malik, R K, Thornhill, B A, Chang, A Y, Kiley, S C, Chevalier, R L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
Ceramides - metabolism
Female
Fetuses
Kidney - cytology
Kidney - growth & development
Kidney - metabolism
Kidneys
Kinases
Lipids
Liver
Liver - embryology
Liver - growth & development
Liver - metabolism
Lung - embryology
Lung - growth & development
Lung - metabolism
Lungs
Morphogenesis
Phosphorus
Pregnancy
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Regression analysis
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Summary:Ceramide is emerging as an important hydrophobic sphingolipid involved in cell differentiation and apoptosis. Since apoptosis plays a significant role in cellular remodeling during renal morphogenesis, we measured ceramide content and apoptosis in the fetal (18 days gestation), neonatal (3, 7, and 14 days postnatal), and adult rat kidney. In addition, to determine whether developmental changes in ceramide content are tissue-specific, we compared renal ceramide content with that in lung and liver. Ceramide was measured by the diacylglycerol kinase assay, and apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL technique. Renal ceramide content fell over 100-fold from the fetus to the 7th postnatal day. Renal apoptosis paralleled ceramide content, with a greater than 300-fold decrease in apoptosis from fetal to adult life. Ceramide content of the lung and liver was significantly less than that of the kidney, and changed less with maturation. We conclude that maturational changes in ceramide content are tissue-specific, and that the high rate of apoptosis in the developing kidney may be related to the elevated ceramide content.
ISSN:0931-041X
1432-198X
DOI:10.1007/s004670000444