Background: The genetic background may exert important modifying effects on the course and severity of experimental kidney diseases in mice. We investigated its influence on the development of hypertension and renal injury following treatment with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt in several mouse strains.
Methods: Four mouse strains were used for comparison: 129/Sv, C57BL/6 and F1 and F2 intercrosses of 129/Sv x C57BL/6. Male mice were uninephrectomized and DOCA hypertension was induced for 6 weeks. DOCA animals and controls received 1% NaCl for drinking. Renal damage was evaluated following measurements of blood pressure, urine albumin and renal matrix expansion.
Results: DOCA-induced blood pressure increase, glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and albuminuria were markedly higher in 129/Sv than in C57BL/6 mice. F1 and F2 intercrosses displayed intermediate blood pressure, glomerular and interstitial fibrosis comparable to C57BL/6 but albuminuria as high as 129/Sv mice.
Conclusions: 129/Sv mice are more susceptible to the development of DOCA-induced high blood pressure and renal damage than C57BL/6 mice. Intercrosses of both strains show a complex and non-uniform segregation of the susceptibility to DOCA-salt hypertension and nephrosclerosis.