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Effects of glutamine supplementation on kidney of diabetic rat

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Abstract

Glutamine is the most important donor of NH3 in kidney playing an important role in acid–base buffering system. Besides this effect, glutamine presents many other relevant functions in the whole body, such as a precursor of arginine in adult and neonates. In addition to these effects, some studies have shown that glutamine can potentiate renal disease. In the present study, the effect of short-term treatment (15 days) with glutamine on control and diabetic rats was investigated. Using biochemical, histological and molecular biology analysis from control and diabetic rats we verified that glutamine supplementation increase in pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL)-1β and IL-6 content in renal cortex and induce alteration in glomerular characteristics. This study showed that short-term treatment with glutamine in association with increased glucose levels could cause important alterations in glomerular morphology that may result in fast progression of kidney failure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the constant assistance of Rui Curi and Sonia Q. Doi. The authors are grateful to Cleusa M.R. Pellegrini, Érica P. Portiolli, Fernanda A.C. Barreuce, Geraldina de Souza, José R. Mendonça and Renata Giacon for technical assistance. This research was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, Butantan, São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil

    Tatiana Carolina Alba-Loureiro & Claudia J. Lagranha

  2. Department of Cell Biology and Development, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rodolfo Favaro Ribeiro & Telma Maria Tenório Zorn

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  1. Tatiana Carolina Alba-Loureiro
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  2. Rodolfo Favaro Ribeiro
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  3. Telma Maria Tenório Zorn
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  4. Claudia J. Lagranha
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Correspondence to Tatiana Carolina Alba-Loureiro.

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Alba-Loureiro, T.C., Ribeiro, R.F., Zorn, T.M.T. et al. Effects of glutamine supplementation on kidney of diabetic rat. Amino Acids 38, 1021–1030 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0310-3

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