The first variant of the dynamic study were models with diabetic nephropathy. With a 5-day period of diabetes mellitus, mild symptoms of diabetic nephropathy were noted, which were based on microangiopathies (Fig. 2).
They were manifested by some increase in proliferation and swelling of arteriole endothelial cells, and areas of plasma impregnation of their walls, mainly in the subendothelial zones with plasma proteins, detected in the form of small foci. Swelling of endotheliocytes in places was accompanied by destructive changes in some of them. Occasionally there was perivascular edema and mild lymphohistiocytic infiltration around individual arterioles. On the 10th day of observation in the capillaries and venules, along with the phenomena of congestive plethora, with a tendency to hemolysis, there was a thinning of the walls of the vessels containing in the lumen, in addition to erythrocytes, many neutrophils (Fig. 3).
On the 20th day of reproduction of diabetic nephropathy, morphologically, more significant violations of most capillaries and arterioles were noted, compared with those of the previous observation period. They were manifested in a pronounced swelling of endothelial cells, flattening of the nuclei with a thickening of their basement membrane, and in some cases, their desquamation into the lumen of the vessels. Plasma impregnation with fixation of plasma components in the subendothelium was noted in the vessel wall. In addition to thickening of the basement membranes in arterioles, thickening of their layers and the presence of pericytes in small vessels, as well as smooth muscle cells in arterioles, were observed. The connective tissue surrounding the blood vessels showed edema and perivascular infiltration.
On the 30th day of reproduction of diabetic nephropathy, the lumens of small vessels looked wide with signs of congestive plethora. Some of them were in a state of thrombosis (Fig. 4). Arterioles and venules were characterized by changes in blood cells in the form of adhesion of erythrocytes to the surface of endotheliocytes, and in some places, to the basement membrane. In addition to the narrowing of the lumen of individual arterioles, due to thickening of the walls, because of plasma impregnation, swelling and desquamation of endothelial cells into their lumen, there were areas of thinning of the walls (Fig. 5) with the release of erythrocytes.
The venules were characterized by an enlarged lumen and a pronounced perivascular infiltration.
The 40-day period of modeling diabetic nephropathy was manifested by a pronounced swelling of endothelial cells, their hypertrophy, destruction, detachment from the basement membrane, as well as their rejection into the lumen of the vessel (Fig. 6).
Sometimes, the processes of pericytes or smooth muscle cells were immersed in the formed gaps. The noted thickening of the walls of most arterioles was accompanied by hyalinosis of their walls, which was both segmental and circulatory in nature. More significant, in comparison with the early periods of observation, plasma impregnation of vessel walls was revealed, moreover, it was observed in all layers. Significant thickening of the walls of arterioles occurred mainly due to an increase in the thickness of the basement membrane of endotheliocytes. In some cases, its profusion into the lumen of the vessel was determined, leading, together with the above changes, to its significant narrowing or complete obliteration (Fig. 7). In separate observations, on the 50th day of modeling, recalibration was detected in arterioles, leading to the appearance of "vasa vasorum" (Fig. 8).
In the late terms of the experiment (60–80 days), while maintaining all the above morphological signs of microangiopathy, phenomena of complete loss of the endothelial lining by hyalinized vessels are noted. In view of this, they were represented by cell-free tubules, the lumen of which was filled with accumulations of erythrocytes, with the occurrence of thrombosis. These periods were characterized by significant disturbances in the blood cells the phenomena of hemolysis, and areas of thrombosis. As a result, there was a redistribution of erythrocytes to the surface of endotheliocytes (Fig. 9).
In addition to the accumulation of erythrocyte aggregates resembling the shape of mulberries, swollen, and torn off from the basement membrane, endotheliocytes clogged the lumen of the vessels. At the same time, in some cases, a pronounced proliferation of connective tissue was observed perivascularly, forming a kind of connective tissue “clutch”.
The results of our morphological studies in the dynamics from 5 to 80 days of modeling diabetic nephropathy indicate the development of diabetes mellitus with its complication, the manifestation of which was the presence of its most characteristic indicator of vascular damage in the form of various degrees of microangiopathy. It was noted that the severity of pathomorphological changes in blood vessels was directly dependent on the duration of the process. Characteristically, all structural components of the vascular wall were subjected to changes in experimental diabetes.
In the dynamics of the reproduction of diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy throughout the 80-day duration of the disease, in accordance with the stages of microangiopathy, we identified 3 periods of its pathomorphological changes:
I period up to 10 days was characterized by mild signs of angiopathy in the form of swelling of the endothelium of arterioles, slight impregnation of their walls with plasma protein, light, perivascular infiltration, and edema in the form of congestive plethora. Thinning of the capillary walls was observed.
In the II period of experimental modeling (20–30 days), the progression of the process was noted, manifested in deeper structural changes in most vessels. In addition to plasma impregnation of subendothelial sections of arterioles, proliferation of endothelial and perithelial cells, as well as their desquamation, narrowing of the lumen due to thickening of the walls was observed. There was also an expansion of the lumen of small vessels, their stagnant plethora, infiltration of adventitia layers.
III period (40–80 days) was characterized by a more significant development of morphological signs of diabetic microangiopathy. Along with the morphological changes identified in the early stages, the phenomenon of hyalinosis of most arteriole walls, as well as their pronounced plasma impregnation, was noted. Swelling and detachment of endotheliocytes with the introduction of smooth muscle cells into the vessel wall with their percalibration and the formation of vasa vasorum, as well as a significant narrowing of the lumen of arterioles. At the same time, perivascular edema, infiltration, and proliferation of connective tissue were observed. Changes in blood cells were manifested in their tendency to hemolysis, adhesion of the luminal surface, the appearance of erythrocyte aggregates with the development of thrombosis. At the same time, pronounced damage to endotheliocytes, their detachment from the basement membrane led to an increase in the lumen of arterioles, and the reaction of smooth muscle cells and pericytes contributed to the thickening of the basement membranes. Prolonged plasma impregnation causes the development of hyalinosis of microvessels.
Continuation of experimental studies showed that the application of burn wounds to the cortical layer of the kidneys in the arteries revealed fibrinoid disorganization of collagen with hyalinosis phenomena. There was a lack of an internal elastic membrane in damaged endothelium. At the same time, the middle shell in these areas was thinned. Throughout the vessel, calcifications were encountered, between which areas of inflammation were determined, sometimes with the transition of their fibrosis. In the adventitia associated with vessels, there are signs of productive vasculitis and obliteration of the lumen, as well as the presence of vasa vasorum with a circular thickening of its intima (Fig. 10).
In the subsequent periods after the application of burn wounds, in general, the same type of angiogenic changes characteristic of nephropathy were revealed, some of which turned out to be deeper, such as stenosing sclerosis, as well as fibrosis of the tunica media. In the adventitium layer, along with vasculitis vasa vasorum, there are lymphohistiocytic infiltrates, indicating the phenomena of focal periarteritis. In adjacent thickenings of the intima with the phenomena of fibrosis, as well as signs of vasculitis.
By the 60th day of modeling chronic renal failure against the background of diabetic nephropathy, a pronounced stenosis and thickening of the intima of the artery of a circular nature were characteristic. It noted the phenomena of hyperplasia and fibrosis of connective tissue structures, as well as muscle fibers. The expansion of the collateral structures of the capillary network of muscle tissue had no increase in the luminal area (Fig. 11).
Based on the foregoing, it follows that when modeling diabetic nephropathy by a combined chemical method, all elements of the vascular wall of the kidneys undergo structural changes. At the same time, the degree of their violation in angiopathy is directly dependent on the duration of the experiment.
The 3 stages of nephropathy identified by us during the experiment (I - minor, II - moderate and III - severe) testified to the choice of terms for modeling chronic renal failure. The main criteria for a possible period of transition from nephropathy to the development of chronic renal failure is the presence of hyalinosis of microvessels with thickening of the membranes, which indicated the occurrence of irreversible angiogenic changes. This period is defined by us as 40 days of modeling diabetic nephropathy.