Influência de desreguladores endócrinos no microambiente renal de ratos durante o envelhecimento: aspectos histopatológicos

Abstract

The kidneys are essential organs for several homeostatic functions, but they are vulnerable to damage caused by exposure to environmental chemicals, especially endocrine disruptors (ED). These compounds can interfere with the endocrine system and are associated with a number of adverse health effects, including kidney injury and nephrotoxicity. Exposure to ED during fetal development is of particular concern because it can lead to long-lasting structural and functional changes in the kidney, predisposing to kidney disease in adulthood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the effects of perinatal exposure to a mixture of ED on renal histoarchitecture. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups: Control Group (vehicle: corn oil, by gavage) and ED Mix Group: received 32.11 mg/kg/day of the mixture consisting of twelve compounds (phthalates, pesticides, UV filters, bisphenol A, butylparaben) diluted in corn oil (2 ml/kg), by gavage. Pregnant or lactating rats received treatment from gestational day 7 (GD7) to postnatal day 21 (PND21). After weaning, on PND22, the pups were housed until 440 days of age receiving water and food ad libitum, when they were euthanized. The kidney was collected, dissected and processed for histological analysis. Sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and picrosirius were subjected to fractal analysis, karyometric analysis, glomerular volume analysis, nuclear perimeter, elongation factor and quantification of collagen types. The DE mixture did not alter the organosomatic index and absolute weight of the kidney. In the animals exposed to the mixture, lesions such as necrosis and tubular fusion were observed, verifying a biological tendency (p = 0.068) for a greater number of histological alterations in the exposed group. An increase in the nuclear perimeter and the presence of larger nuclei were observed in the cortex (p < 0.5) and medulla (p = 0,003) of animals exposed to the mixture, in addition to changes in the pattern of cellular organization in the glomerular and medullary regions of these animals. Exposure to the DE mixture altered the pattern of renal collagen organization, increased fibrosis represented by the increase in collagen I and III in the cortical and medullary compartments (p < 0.0001) and reduced the amount in the glomerulus. These findings suggest that perinatal exposure to ED may significantly affect the histoarchitecture of the renal microenvironment during aging, indicating that the environment may impact renal function and health across the lifespan.