Aim: The purpose of this research was to use metabolomics to investigate the cystic phenotype in the Lewis polycystic kidney rat.
Methods: Spot urine samples were collected from four male Lewis control and five male Lewis polycystic kidney rats aged 5 weeks, before kidney function was significantly impaired. Metabolites were extracted from urine and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis was used to determine key metabolites contributing to the variance observed between sample groups.
Results: With the development of a metabolomics method to analyse Lewis and Lewis polycystic kidney rat urine, 2-ketoglutaric acid, allantoin, uric acid and hippuric acid were identified as potential biomarkers of cystic disease in the rat model.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of metabolomics to further investigate kidney disease.
© 2011 The Authors. Nephrology © 2011 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.