Intraglomerular expression of a-smooth muscle actin in aging mice

Abstract

To determine whether chronic treatment with enalapril initiated early in life prevents glomerular injury secondary to normal aging, CF1 mice received enalapril (20 mg/L, n=10) or nifedipine (40 mg/L, n=10) in their drinking water from the time of weaning to 12 months of life. Control mice (n=10) received tap water ad libitum. Immunocytochemical detection of renin confirmed that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition resulted in recruitment of renin-containing cells along the preglomerular vessels. Morphometric analysis of glomeruli included assessment of glomerular diameter and the percentage of mesangial area per glomerulus. Glomerular diameter and mesangial area were higher in control mice (99.7±0.5 μm, 12.7±0.3%) than in enalapril-treated mice (88±0.8 μm, 8.6±0.6%) ( P