Pharmacological studies on experimental nephritic rats (3). Changes in the connective tissue components of renal cortex in the modified type of Masugi's nephritis.

Using a modified type of Masugi's nephritis, quantitative changes in several connective tissue components of renal cortex during the process of nephritis were compared with those of the contents of urinary protein and serum cholesterol. Levels of urinary protein and serum cholesterol were highest 10 days after anti-kidney serum injection and nearly normal levels were reverted to on the 30th day. The levels of sialic acid, uronic acid and hydroxyproline in the renal cortex of the nephritic group significantly increased from the 1st, 5th and 10th days, respectively compared with the normal group. The sialic acid content reached a peak with an increase of approx. 40% on the 15th day, reverting to almost the normal level on the 30th day, while the uronic acid and hydroxyproline levels continued to increase slowly after the 15th day, reaching rates of approx. 70% and 40%, respectively on the 30th day. The hexosamine content reached a maximum of 20% on the 20th day. Quantitative changes in connective tissue components of the renal cortex due to nephritis appear to reflect the degree of the repair of injured renal tissue.