Effect of streptozotocin on the morphology of proximal convoluted tubules in albino rats

Aim: to observe the nephrotoxic effect of stz on the morphology of proximal convoluted tubules (p.c.t) of albino rats for three weeks & eight weeks duration. study design: prospective experimental study. place and duration of study: this study was conducted in department of anatomy,post graduate medical institute,lahore from february to april,2012. material and methods: 45 male albino rats were obtained from the animal house of bmsi and divided into three groups (gps) - control gp a and stz treated gp b and c,made diabetic by single dose stz(37mg/kg b/w).serum glucose level of all the rats were measured before the experiment and twice weekly.gp b animals were sacrificed at the end of 3rd week and gp c animals at the end of 8th week for a detailed morphological examination of the p.c.t in the periodic acid schiff-haematoxylin(pas-h) stained sections under the light microscope. serum creatinine levels were also determined in all the gps for the assessment of renal function. results: microscopically,gp b slides showed dilated proximal tubules and some of them appeared to be distorted. kidney sections of gp c showed signs of tubular necrosis with disrupted brush borders and basement membranes. serum glucose levels were significantly elevated in both gp b and c. serum creatinine was not significantly elevated in gp b and increased significantly in gp c. conclusion: stz at a dose of (37mg/kg b/w) is severely nephrotoxic. it produces significant hyperglycaemia leading to oxidative damage.