Effect of High-altitude Hypoxia Environment on Uric Acid Excretion, Desmin Protein Level in Podocytes, and Na+-K+- ATPase Activity

Hypoxia effects on uric acid; desmin protein Na+-K+- ATPase

Abstract

To investigate the oxidative stress and adaptive compensation of kidneys in rats in high-altitude hypoxia environments, 20 Wistar rats (3 months) were randomly and equally grouped. The rats in the test group were fed in a low-pressure oxygen chamber, and those in the control group (controls) were fed in a normal environment. On the 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th day, the excretion of uric acid in rats was detected by a biochemical analyzer, the level of desmin protein in rat podocytes was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the activity of Na⁺-K⁺- ATPase in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells was measured by liquid scintillation method. The results showed that with the increased time, the level of uric acid in the blood of rats in the test group increased dramatically (P<0.05). On the 30th day, the blood uric acid content of the test group was 52.33μmol/L, and that of the control group was 38.43μmol/L. The blood uric acid content in the test group was dramatically increased relative to the control group. Immunohistochemistry showed that the desmin protein in podocytes of the test group (0.14) was considerably higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The Na⁺-K⁺- ATPase activity of proximal renal tubular epithelial cells in the test group was 611.2 pmol pi/mg protein/h, which was considerably lower than the versus control group (P<0.05). In summary, in high altitude hypoxia environment, uric acid accumulated in the body, and renal filtration and excretion ability was limited.