Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an inevitable process which might be the major cause of death in senile age. In certain diseases male gender is a risk factor. The mitotic division of resident SCs might be stimulated by cellular injury and contribute to the restoration of damaged cells.
Aim of study: The current study is designed to study the sexual dimorphism in relation to structural changes in the renal cortex in prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal age groups of rat. In addition, possible role of endogenous stem cells (SCs).
Materials and methods: Thirty albino rats were divided into three groups, Pre-pubertal, pubertal and post-pubertal each was subdivided into two subgroups male and female respectively. The body weight (BW), kidney weight (KW), cross sectional area (CA) and serum creatinine (sC) were determined. Kidney sections were subjected to histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, morphometric and statistical studies.
Results: BW and glomerular area values recorded age related changes. While KW, CA, sC, count of dark nuclei, area of collagen, thickness of tubular basement membrane, count of proliferation marker proved age and sex related changes.
Conclusion: Progressive age related increase in BW, KW, CA, sC and glomerular area (GA) was found, that became reciprocal for the GA in postpubertal rats due to atrophy. Elevated sC, enhanced apoptosis, fibrosis and thickened tubular basement membrane (tBM) and reduced cellular proliferation were detected. Enhanced SCs migration in response to injury were more noticeable in male postpubertal rats.