Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney in rats.

We evaluated the characteristics of renal lesions in rat autosomal recessive polycystic kidney (ARPK). In rat ARPK, small cysts appeared primarily in the medulla 2 months after birth and gradually extended to the cortex, forming large cysts involving the entire layer after 8 months. By immunofluorescence microscopy, type IV collagen was more strongly stained in the epithelial basement membrane of the rat ARPK than in the normal rat tubular basement membrane (TBM). Electron microscopy demonstrated a marked thickening, slight splitting and lamination of the TBM in the ARPK. As peroxidase-labeled lectins, dolichos biflorus very strongly stained the cyst epithelium whereas lens culinaris did not. These findings indicate that cysts in rat ARPK originate in the collecting duct.