An electron microscopic examination of age-related changes in the rat kidney: the influence of diet.

The changes with age in the ultrastructure of the kidneys were explored in ad libitum fed rats with restricted food intake started soon after weaning or started in young adult life or limited to early life and in rats restricted in protein but not caloric intake. Many ultrastructural changes occurred with age both in the glomeruli and the tubules. Food restriction started soon after weaning or in adult life modulated most of these age changes. By providing detailed information on basement membrane and tubular cell structure, these findings complement previous light microscopic and functional studies in regard to the effects of food restriction on progressive kidney disease in the rat. Food restriction limited to early life and protein restriction without caloric restriction were less effective in modulating these age changes in kidney ultrastructure than food restriction initiated at 6 weeks or 6 months of age and continued for the rest of the life span.