Characterization of interstitial abnormalities in naturally occurring renal disease in dogs

Pathological alterations and infiltration of T-lymphocytes into the renal cortex of dogs with naturally occurring renal diseases are important in the initiation and progression of renal failure in animals and human beings. Quantification of morphological alterations and identification of the subsets of T-lymphocytes which infiltrates into the canine renal interstitium have not been studied. The objectives of our study were to quantify the histopathological alterations and to characterize the subsets (CD4$\sp+$ and CD8$\sp+$) of infiltrating T-lymphocytes by using morphometrical and immunohistochemical techniques, respectively, in renal tissue from dogs with naturally occurring renal disease.

Pathologic alterations in the renal cortex were analyzed morphometrically from 39 dogs. Fields from the tissue sections were randomly selected and stereological methodology for morphometry was used. Eleven variables were measured. After morphometry, histopathological categorization was made and grouped (control (I), chronic interstitial nephritis (II), glomerulonephritis (III), amyloidosis (IV), nephrocalcinosis (V) and glomerulonephritis (VI)) according to histopathological findings and final diagnosis submitted by a pathologist from the Atlantic Veterinary College Diagnostic Laboratory. Kidney tissues from normal dogs were used as a control group. Data was analyzed with Minitab statistical software program. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).