Lectin characterization of cystogenesis in the SBM transgenic model of polycystic kidney disease.

The generation of a novel transgenic mouse model of polycystic kidney disease with a construct (SBM) that links the coding region of the c-myc proto-oncogene to the simian virus 40 enhancer and beta-globin promoter was previously reported (see reference 1). In order to determine the site of origin and histogenesis of renal cysts in this model, lectin/immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies on mice of varying ages (from birth to adulthood) are described here. Cysts are detectable at birth and increase in number and diameter with age. Cysts predominantly involve the collecting tubules of young transgenic mice but progressively affect the proximal tubules with advancing age. A minority of cysts are of distal tubular origin in all age groups studied. Tubular hyperplasias are primarily reactive with proximal tubular markers and appear to precede the development of proximal tubular cysts in adult mice. This particular phenotypic evolution of polycystic kidney disease with advancing age suggests that the cystogenic potential of the transgene is modulated by yet unidentified tubular segment-specific responses.