Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis following a single intravenous dose of puromycin aminonucleoside.

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) represents a final pathologic pattern of a number of human renal disorders. Among laboratory models, repeated intraperitoneal injections of the aminonucleoside of puromycin (PA) produces a histologic pattern not unlike the human process. A single intravenous dose of this drug usually results in glomerular morphologic changes in rats resembling those in human nephrotic syndrome with minimal changes. This report describes acute and chronic glomerular injury that begins as early as 8 days after a single central administration of PA and progresses to FSGS within an 18-week period. It seems likely that minimal change disease and FSGS are two pathologic processes in the same continuum of disease. In this model, the severity and persistence of the glomerular lesion may represent irreversible glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury secondary to the toxic effects of PA.