Age-Related Variations in Renal Structure and Function in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Data from 500 male and 500 female Sprague-Dawley rats used as controls in studies performed at Huntingdon Research Centre to assess the safety of drugs were sampled at 17, 30, 56, 82, or 108 weeks of age. Plasma urea nitrogen levels remained constant, except in aged males. Aging caused increased proteinuria and decreased urinary concentrating ability, in addition to increased size, weight, and degree of cortical scarring of kidneys. Chronic progressive nephropathy, first seen histopathologically at 30 weeks of age, accounted for these changes and ultimately affected 81% of male and 44% of female rats. One-fifth of two-year-old male rats had diffuse parenchymal damage and a small number also had secondary hyperparathyroidism. Other notable changes included basophilic (often colloid-filled) cortical tubules, mononuclear cell infiltrations, parenchymal and pelvic mineralization, urothelial hyperplasia, and pyelonephritis. Miscellaneous low incidence findings included one lipomatous tumour and generalized lymphosarcoma.