It has been postulated that the enzyme hyaluronidase facilitates water reabsorption in the renal collecting duct by reducing the intercellular mucopolysaccharide level and enhancing epithelial permeability. The present study was designed to examine the effects of enzyme inhibition upon certain renal and urinary compositional and structural changes which are normally associated with antidiuresis, inhibition was brought about by administration of antiserum to a purified extract of rat urinary hyaluronidase, raised in rabbits. In rats pretreated with antiserum antidiuretic stimuli failed to elevate the cortico-medullary solute concentration gradient. This was chiefly a reflection of elevated tissue water content by conparison with similarly treated animals which received normal serum. Following water deprivation for up to forty-eight hours, urinary volumes were significantly higher in groups receiving antiserum than in groups receiving normal serum. The medullary content of Liucopolysaccharide was estimated by measuring hexosa/aine release on hydrolysis with HOl, It was found that the level decreased during antidiuresis, but pretreatment with antir'Cruia abolished this effect. Pretreatment with antiserum abolished the caluria which noriDally accompanies hydropenia. Excretory levels of calcium between antiserum and normal serum pretreated groups differed significantly throughout the period of water deprivation. In the second twenty-four hour period excretory levels in both groups fell markedly. This was probably due to disturbances in normal body calcium balance resulting from the fall in dietary intake during water deprivation. Widening of intercellular spaces in collecting duct epithelium was observed in electron Jiicrographs of sections taken from kidneys of hydropenic rats. Pretreatnent with antiserum decreased both frequency and size of these spaces. In order to assess the specificity of the enzyme isolated from urine, antiserum to rat testicular hyaluronidase has been raised and its effects on the parameters refered to previously, examined. Results indicate that the testicular enzyme does not have significant effect on the renal concentrating process. These findings are consistant with the view that renal hyaluronidase plays a significant role in the process of urinary concentration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:471083 |
| Date | January 1979 |
| Creators | Rowen, David |
| Publisher | University of Leicester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/2381/33610 |
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