The morphofunctional peculiarities of renal nephrons
under the condition of cellular dehydratation and periods of
adaptation and readaptation
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1
I. HORBACHEVSKY TERNOPIL NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, TERNOPIL, UKRAINE
2
DANYLO GALYTSKY LVIV NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, LVIV, UKRAINE
Publication date: 2025-07-30
Wiadomości Lekarskie 2025;(7):1207-1212
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Aim: To assess, under experimental conditions of cellular dehydration of varying severity, the nature of structural changes in the nephron and the dynamics
of reparative processes during the recovery period.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 110 young male Wistar rats, divided into two groups. The first group (30 rats) remained intact, while
the second group (80 rats) was adapted to dehydration. Adaptation was achieved through alternating a low-mineral diet with 1.5% hypertonic sodium chloride
solution (for two days) and a standard vivarium diet (for one day) over 42 days. Cellular dehydration in the second group was induced by administering 1.5%
hypertonic sodium chloride solution along with dried oats and crackers. The degree of dehydration was determined based on the water deficit. In the next stage
of the experiment, animals were returned to a normal diet, and readaptation changes were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks after the cessation of the dehy
drating
factor. The morphological state of the kidney structures was examined using microscopic, electron-microscopic, morphometric, and statistical methods.
Results: As a result of exposure dehydrating factor, the renal parenchyma shows functional tension in the glomeruli and tubular epithelial cells due to the
increased load on the kidney. Changes of podocyte pedicels affect the size of filtration slits that regulate glomerular filter permeability. The first indicators
of disorders in the glomerular-tubular system are the basal membranes in the composition of capillaries and epithelium. Even in mild dehydration, as the
dehydrating factor increases, the basal membrane thickens, loses its three-layer structural organization, becomes homogeneous and osmiophilic. Gradually,
podocytes and endothelial cells of capillaries are damaged, undergoing dystrophy. The process of readaptation after rehydration of the previously dehydrated
organism involves a complex of morphological changes following cellular dehydration, aimed at restoring lost or weakened functions of cells and tissues, their
adaptive-compensatory changes, which ensure adaptation to certain conditions. Structural transformations of cells during readaptation may manifest in the
enhanced stabilization of cell membranes and the resistance of tissues to intensive influences. Previous adaptation under dehydration leads to the mitigation
of the dehydrating factor’s impact, manifested in a lower severity of structural-metabolic disturbances and increased energy exchange.
Conclusions: The structural components of the nephron immediately respond to disturbances in the body’s water-electrolyte balance by changing their
structural organization. These changes are significant in severe cellular dehydration, and their restoration requires a long period of time.