Chronic kidney disease to osteoporosis: histopathological analysis on animal model with unilateral ureteral obstruction method

Abstract

Background: One of the most frequent complications due to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the occurrence of disturbances in mineral metabolism.. Increased bone remodeling results in osteopenia, which can progressively lead to osteoporosis. Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) are one of the most well-known and easy-to-obtain laboratory test animals. Data regarding the duration of bone pathological progression in CKD-induced Wistar strain rats by the unilateral ureteral obstruction method are limited. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study, with a prospective cohort approach. The aim was to determine the histopathological onset of osteoporosis in Wistar rats with the CKD model. We used 13 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The CKD rat models were randomized and put into four containers, each containing three rats. Each group was treated in the same way for predetermined durations, which were the 7th day, 14th day, 21st day, and 28th day after CKD modeling, before being sacrificed for femoral bone histopathological collection. Results: On the 7th day after CKD modeling, we discovered thickening of the periosteal fibrous tissue. On the 14th and 21st days, there was an increase in the thickness of the periosteal fibrous tissue in the metaphyseal and diaphyseal areas. This thickening progression was in line with the length of treatment time. On the 21st day, we began to see the increasing gap between the trabecular tissues. On the 28th day, the histopathological analysis of femoral bone tissue showed thinning of the bone trabecular tissue and the most distant inter-trabecular spaces, suggesting the appearance of osteoporosis. Conclusion: The histopathological picture of osteoporosis in the Wistar strain rat model of CKD appeared most clearly and worst on the 28th day after CKD. It was marked by the thinning of the trabecular bone tissue and the most distant spaces between the trabeculae.