Glomerulosclerosis in aging humans is not influenced by gender

Aging male rats develop progressive glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, and loss of renal function, whereas females are remarkably resistant to the development of these abnormalities. Although sex hormones appear to contribute to gender-related differences in the development of glomerulosclerosis in ag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of kidney diseases Vol. 34; no. 5; p. 884
Main Authors Neugarten, J, Gallo, G, Silbiger, S, Kasiske, B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.11.1999
Subjects
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Female
Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - pathology
Humans
Kidney Glomerulus - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Rats
Sex Factors
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Summary:Aging male rats develop progressive glomerulosclerosis, proteinuria, and loss of renal function, whereas females are remarkably resistant to the development of these abnormalities. Although sex hormones appear to contribute to gender-related differences in the development of glomerulosclerosis in aging rats, it is not clear that sexual dimorphism characterizes glomerular obsolescence in aging humans. To study this question further, the glomerular histology of males and females ranging in age from infancy to 90 years was compared in 250 autopsy specimens. We found no differences between the sexes in the development of glomerulosclerosis in aging humans. These data disprove the hypothesis that testosterone is an important factor contributing to progressive glomerulosclerosis in aging men. Conversely, any renoprotective effects of estrogen would be limited by the onset of menopause because significant glomerulosclerosis did not develop until after the age of 50 years.
ISSN:0272-6386
DOI:10.1016/S0272-6386(99)70046-6