Alterations in Kidney Structures Caused by Age Vary According to Sex and Dehydration Condition

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2022-12, Vol.23 (24), p.15672
• Main Authors: Cognuck, Susana Quirós, Almeida, Lucas Ferreira de, Reis, Wagner L, Silva, Márcia S, Almeida-Pereira, Gislaine, Zorro, Sandra V, Mecawi, André S, Coimbra, Terezila Machado, Elias, Lucila L K, Antunes-Rodrigues, José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actin; Age; Aging; Aging - genetics; Animals; Biological activity; Biological effects; Brief Report; Dehydration; Dehydration - genetics; Extracellular matrix; Female; Females; Fibronectin; Fibronectins - genetics; Gene expression; Hydration; Kidney - pathology; Kidneys; Male; Males; mRNA; Muscles; Older people; Plasma; Rats; Renal cortex; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Sex; Smooth muscle; Sodium; Structure-function relationships; Urine; Water Deprivation
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415672

Aging is a complex biological process, resulting in gradual and progressive decline in structure and function in many organ systems. Our objective is to determine if structural changes produced by aging vary with sex in a stressful situation such as dehydration. The expression of mRNA in the renal cortex, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and fibronectin was evaluated in male and female rats, aged 3 and 18 months, submitted and not submitted to water deprivation (WD) for 48 h, respectively. When comparing ages, 18-month-old males showed a lower expression of mRNA than 3-month-old males, and control and WD 18-month-old male and female rats exhibited a higher expression of α-SMA than the respective 3-month-old rats. Fibronectin was higher in both control and WD 18-month-old males than the respective 3-month-old males. In females, only the control 18-month-old rats showed higher fibronectin than the control 3-month-old rats. When we compared sex, control and WD 3-month-old female rats had a lower expression of mRNA than the respective males. The WD 18-month-old male rats presented a higher expression of fibronectin and α-SMA than the WD 18-month-old female rats. When we compared hydric conditions, the WD 18-month-old males displayed a lower relative expression of mRNA and higher α-SMA expression than the control 18-month-old males. Aging, sex, and dehydration lead to alterations in kidney structure.