Functional and morphological renal changes in a Göttingen Minipig model of obesity-related and diabetic nephropathy

Male Göttingen Minipigs were divided into 4 groups: SD (standard diet, n=8), FFC (FFC diet, n=16), FFC-DIA (FFC diet + diabetes, n=14), FFC-DIA+S (FFC diet with extra salt + diabetes, n=14). Blood and urine biomarkers, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), blood pressure and resistive index (RI) were evaluated after 6-7 months (T1) and 12-13 months (T2). Histology, electron microscopy and gene expression (excluding FFC-DIA+S) were evaluated at T2. Göttingen Minipigs fed FFC diet displayed some of the characteristic features of human ORG. Presence of diabetes on top of FFC diet, lead to changes resembling the early phases of human DN. qPCR gene expression profiling. Kidney tissue from 28 Göttingen Minipig.