Effects of low protein intake on the development of the remaining kidney in subtotally nephrectomized immature rats: expression of inducible and endothelial NO synthase.

We examined the effects of low protein intake on the development of the remaining kidney in subtotally (5/6) nephrectomized immature rats. Three-week-old rats were kept on a diet containing either 12% protein (Lp rats) or 18% protein (Np rats) for 4 or 8 weeks after subtotal nephrectomy (SUNx). In Western blot analysis, the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein expression of the Lp rats was significantly higher than that of the Np rats at 4 weeks after SUNx. Immunohistochemically, more inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-positive cells were observed in the Np rats than in the Lp rats 4 weeks after SUNx in the distal tubules. In semiquantitative RT-PCR, the expression of renin mRNA was significantly lower in the Lp rats than in the Np rats at 4 and 8 weeks after SUNx. These findings reveal that protein restriction is effective in preventing renal failure of immature rats and that the changes in the expression levels of renin, eNOS, and iNOS is involved in the process of this prevention.